Professor Magnotti investigates sustainable combustion solutions to decarbonize the energy and the heavy-duty transportation sector.

At the core of Professor Magnotti’s research is the development of novel, cutting-edge, laser diagnostics methods for measurements of temperature, and major and minor species in reactive flows. Areas of particular interest are the development of Raman/Rayleigh scattering, high-precision, kHz rate, pulse-burst laser diagnostics, and quantitative laser-induced fluorescence.

By applying advanced laser diagnostics to combustion test cases ranging from small laminar flames to meter-long turbulent jet flames, his group obtains unprecedented insight into the combustion physics of carbon-free and carbon-neutral fuel. Current active research areas include the combustion of ammonia, and hydrogen at atmospheric and elevated pressures, oxy-fuel combustion in supercritical CO₂, and supersonic combustion.

Through imaging and laser diagnostics in optically accessible, heavy-duty internal combustion engines, Professor Magnotti’s group investigates novel strategies to increase engine efficiency, including pre-chamber assisted combustion for ultra-lean operation, and isobaric combustion. Upcoming projects focus on heavy-duty internal combustion engines fueled by carbon-free (hydrogen and ammonia) and carbon-neutral (methanol) fuels. 

• H. Tang, C. Yang, Y. Krishna, G. Wang, T. Guiberti, W. L. Roberts, G. Magnotti*, “Scalar structure in turbulent non-premixed NH3/H2/N2 jet flames at elevated pressure using Raman spectroscopy”, Combustion and Flame, Vol. 244, 112292, October 2022.
• Q.Tang, R. Sampath, P. Sharma, M E. Marquez, E. Cenker, G. Magnotti*,  Study on the effects of narrow-throat pre-chamber geometry on the pre-chamber jet velocity using dual formaldehyde PLIF imaging, Combustion, and Flame, Vol. 240, 111987, 2022.
• H. Tang, C. Yang, G. Wang, T. Guibert, G. Magnotti*, “Raman spectroscopy for quantitative measurements of temperature and major species in high-pressure non-premixed NH3/H2/N2 counterflow flames”, Combustion and Flame, 237, 111840, 2021.
• Y. Krishna, X. Luo, G. Magnotti*, “One-dimensional interferometric Rayleigh scattering velocimetry using a virtually imaged phased array”, Optics Letters, Vol. 46, Issue 20, 5252-5255, 2021.
• Y. Krishna, A.M. Mahuthannan, X. Luo, D.A. Lacoste, G. Magnotti*, “High-speed filtered Rayleigh scattering thermometry in premixed flames through narrow channels”, Combustion and Flame 225, 329-339, 2021.
• C. Yang, H. Tang, G. Magnotti*, “Picosecond Kerr-gated Raman spectroscopy for measurements in sooty and PAH rich hydrocarbon flames”, Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, Vol. 38, pp. 1797-1804, 2021.
• T. Guiberti, Y. Krishna, W. R. Boyette, C. Yang, W.L. Roberts, G. Magnotti,  “Single-shot imaging of major species and OH mole fractions and temperature in H2/N2 flames at elevated pressure”,  Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, Vol.38, pp.1797-1804, 2021.
• C. Yang, H. Tang, G. Magnotti*, “High-speed 1D Raman analyzer for temperature and major species measurements in combustion environment”, Optics Letters Vol.45, issue 10, 2817-2820, 2020.
• Y. Krishna, H. Tang, A.M. Elbaz, G. Magnotti*, “High-speed Rayleigh-Raman measurements with subframe burst gating”, Optics Letters. 44, 4091-4094, 2019.
• Y. Krishna, A.M. Elbaz, Y. Yue, G. Magnotti*, “Mole fraction measurement through a transparent quarl burner using filtered Rayleigh scattering”, Applied Optics 58, Issue 20, 5575-5586. 2019.
• F. De Domenico, T. F. Guibert, S. Hochgreb, W. L. Roberts, G. Magnotti, “Temperature and water measurements in flames using 1064 nm Laser-Induced Grating Spectroscopy (LIGS)”, Combustion and Flame 205, 336-344, 2019.

• Postdoctoral Appointee at the Combustion Research Facility, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore California, 2012-2016.
• Graduate Research Assistant at NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA, USA, 2006-2012
• Ph.D. Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The George Washington University, Washington DC, USA, 2012.
• B.Sc., Aerospace Engineering, University of Naples, “Federico II”, 2004

• 2012-2016: Postdoctoral Appointee, Sandia National Laboratories, Combustion Research Facility, Livermore, CA, USA
• 2004-2012: Graduate Research Assistant, NASA Langley Research Center, Hypersonic Airbreathing Propulsion Branch, Hampton, VA, USA

• The Combustion Institute
• American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

• 2012 AIAA Aerodynamic Measurement Technology Best Paper Award from the AIAA Aerodynamic Measurement Technology Technical Committee.
• Group Achievement Award, from NASA Langley Research Center,2008
• Superior Accomplishment Award from NASA Langley Research Center, 2007

• ​Clean Combustion Research Center (CCRC)
• Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering (PSE)