The Reacting Flow Dynamics Laboratory focuses on issues of reacting flows for energy and propulsion applications. High-speed laser diagnostics and other state-of-the-art experimental techniques are used in research areas such as combustion, hydrodynamic instability and thermoacoustics. With a particular focus on engine combustion and flow fields, the goal of this lab's work is to understand fundamental issues that have been distilled from real-world technologies. Study of these "unit problems" helps to bridge the gap between real-world technological issues and university-level, fundamental research.