Possibility of generation of short laser radiation pulses as a result of photolysis of a cooled H2–F2 mixture

It is shown theoretically that sufficiently strong optical initiation (pulse duration 1–4 μsec) of a chain reaction in a cooled (to 100–150 °K) hydrogen–fluorine mixture ensures that the HF laser radiation energy is emitted mainly as a short pulse lasting a few tens of nanoseconds. The predicted reaction regime is characterized by a high yield of coherent radiation and is of interest in potential applications of HF lasers in controlled thermonuclear fusion systems.