Utilization of excited atoms in thermally initiated chemical lasers in the visible range

An analysis is made of the feasibility of cw (quasi-cw) laser action in the ultraviolet and visible ranges as a result of pumping by a chemical reaction involving excited atoms. The reaction takes place during mixing of the excited atom and reactant streams. The excited atoms (first excited state) are formed by plasma recombination during rapid cooling in a supersonic nozzle. Specific reactions are proposed and it is shown that laser action by this mechanism is possible in principle using XeF and HgCl molecules.