CS2/O2 Chemical Lasers: Chemistry and Performance Characteristics

Abstract

Experimental results from the CS2/O2 chemical laser system using both a flash photolysis initiated pulsed laser and a microwave discharge initiated continuous-wave laser were examined by computer simulation techniques. The comparisons between predicted and observed laser performance led to some conclusions concerning the chemical mechanisms operative in the laser. In particular, the laser pumping step is O+CS→CO+S followed by the chain carrying step S+O2→SO+O which must be rapid, in agreement with the measurements of Fair and Thrush. The oxygen atom consuming reaction, O+NO2→NO+O2, competes too strongly with the other reaction steps for the photolysis of NO2 to be effective as a power improving technique in the flash photolysis laser. The cw laser operates on totally inverted vibrational level populations when cold CO is added to the reaction mixture. Some evidence was found to suggest that excess O2 molecules may act as a vibrational energy sink in the cw system. The laser was operated at a power of 2.3 W cw exhibiting 0.92% and 0.64% chemical and electrical efficiencies, respectively.