Investigation of a Platinum Catalyzed CO2 Laser.

Abstract

In any type of a gas discharge, dissociative products reduce gaseous reactant concentrations resulting in cessation of the desired reaction. In a CO2 laser, dissociation of the CO2 molecule results in increased concentrations of CO and O2 while reducing the CO2 concentration. As the CO2 concentration decreases so does power output of the device. From a purely chemical standpoint, the process of dissociating CO2 in an electrical discharge should be completely reversible, i.e., 2CO2 = 2CO + O2 + E, where E represents the exothermic energy of dissociation. The research reported was directed towards determining if the reaction could be reversed by employing an internal catalyst. Previous correlations between increased laser output and platinum elements within the plasma were shown to be misleading. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1970
Accession Number
AD0718424

Entities

People

  • Paul J. Monaghan Jr

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Carbon Dioxide Lasers
  • Catalysts
  • Dissociation
  • Elements
  • Gas Discharges
  • Lasers
  • Molecules
  • Platinum
  • Reversible

Readers

  • Molecular Photonics/Laser Physics
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers