The DOE development program for MHD is a multiyear program employing two major test facilities and having as a goal the demonstration of the practicality and commercial viability of MHD for electric power generation. This method of direct energy conversion will use our vast coal resources to generate electricity at highly attractive efficiencies in an environmentally acceptable manner. As part of this program, The Diagnostic Instrumentation and Analysis Laboratory (DIAL) at Mississippi State University is developing and applying advanced optical diagnostic measurement techniques and instrumentation systems to provide nonintrusive, remote, real-time measurements on large-scale MHD facilities. The main program objectives of DIAL are to: (1) Develop and apply spectroscopic diagnostic techniques for flow-field measurements. (2) Help characterize and evaluate various gas stream components of an MHD power plant. (3) Provide field measurements for support of MHD engineering development test facilities. (4) Provide necessary data to validate and further develop relevant analytical models. (5) Evaluate optical systems for application as performance monitors and control instruments.