Experimental investigation of the characteristics of a supersonic cw chemical chain-reaction DF—CO2 laser

Abstract

Components of a supersonic cw chemical HF laser were used in an experimental demonstration that a DF—CO2 transfer laser is feasible. The experiments involved a chain reaction of deuterium fluorination at a pressure of ~5 kPa in an optical cavity, which was 5–7 times higher than the pressure in the traditional HF laser. The maximum output radiation power of the DF—CO2 laser was 13.3 kW and the specific output energy was 40 J g-1. Ways of increasing still further the specific energy characteristics were identified.