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Initial performance of a CW chemical laser

  • 1970 International Quantum Electronics Conference Invited Papers
  • Published:
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Abstract

The performance of a continuous HF chemical laser is presented in this paper. Population inversion was obtained by diffusion of H2 into a supersonic jet containing F atoms [H2+F → HF(v)+H1 ΔH=−31.7 kcal/mole]. A peak power of 630 W was obtained with an F atom flow rate of 0.040 mole/sec, and the efficiency of conversion of chemical energy to laser energy was 12%. The performance of a corresponding DF laser is also given. Major laser output is from 2-1 and 1-0 transitions for both lasers. Radiation is at 2.6 to 2.9μm and 3.6 to 4.0μm for the HF and DF lasers, respectively. The ratio of DF to HF laser power is 0.7 under similar flow conditions.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Aerospace Corporation, PO Box 95085, Los Angeles, California, USA

    D. J. Spencer, H. Mirels & T. A. Jacobs

Authors
  1. D. J. Spencer
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  2. H. Mirels
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  3. T. A. Jacobs
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Additional information

Work conducted under US Air Force Contract F04701-69-C-0066.

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Spencer, D.J., Mirels, H. & Jacobs, T.A. Initial performance of a CW chemical laser. Opto-electronics 2, 155–160 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01415092

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01415092

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