Performance Evaluation and Reaction Kinetics of a Pulsed HF Laser
Abstract
Variation of performance of a laser-initiated HF laser with variation in reagent concentrations, reagent-diluent concentration ratio, and initial dissociation level is described. The HF laser intensity transients exhibit characteristic temporal structure representative of free-running chain reactions and collisional transfer processes in reacting H2 - F2 mixtures. Explicit exposure of underlying mechanisms is achieved by fast dissociation of F2 via second harmonic radiation derived from a Q-switched ruby laser pulse, and by simultaneous time-resolved spectral measurements of laser emission on a number of vibration-rotation transitions. Continued laser emission over many chain- reaction steps, even for relatively low dissociation levels, supports the position that pulsed chemical lasers are attractive candidates for high power applications.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1973
- Accession Number
- AD0767230
Entities
People
- D. B. Nichols
- J. D. Mcclure
- K. H. Wrolstad
Organizations
- Boeing