The utility of a photodiode array based spatial emission profiling system has been enhanced by using a method for performing an Abel inversion on asymmetric lateral data which preserves the asymmetry in the radial emission profiles. This procedure has been implemented with an APPLE II plus computer, coupled with a Reticon RL-1024S photodiode array that has been masked with a narrow exit slit. The method has been tested with a theoretical set of lateral data and with actual measured spatial emission profiles.
