Chemical Laser Pulse Initiation Study.

Abstract

The initiation of pulsed chemical laser action by a transverse electrical discharge was investigated. The laser system under study is H2-F2-HE at pressures up to 1 atmosphere. This report discusses three aspects of the electrically initiated pulsed chemical laser. These are: (1) preionization using spark generated ultraviolet radiation to provide a uniform initiating discharge, (2) parametric measurements of electrical and chemical efficiency of the electrically initiated H2-F2 laser, and (3) modeling of the pulsed H2-F2 laser system and projected performance for large-scale devices. It is the conclusion of this work that the electrically initiated H2-F2 chain reaction laser possesses an electrical efficiency significantly higher than any existing pulsed laser, and that the energy per unit volume is competitive with the best state of the art pulsed CO2 or CO lasers. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1973
Accession Number
AD0910698

Entities

People

  • D. B. Rensch
  • Jerald V. Parker
  • L. D. Hess
  • Ronald R. Stephens

Organizations

  • HRL Laboratories

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Carbon Monoxide Lasers
  • Chain Reactions
  • Chemical Lasers
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Efficiency
  • Electromagnetic Radiation
  • Laser Pulses
  • Lasers
  • Light (Electromagnetic Radiation)
  • Light Sources
  • Measurement
  • Pulsed Lasers
  • Radiation
  • Ultraviolet Radiation

Fields of Study

  • Engineering
  • Physics

Readers

  • Database Systems and Applications
  • Molecular Photonics/Laser Physics
  • Technical Research and Report Writing.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers