Numerical optimization of parameters of CO gasdynamic lasers

A numerical investigation is reported of the characteristics of CO gasdynamic lasers utilizing products of combustion of nitrogen compounds consisting mainly of carbon monoxide and nitrogen in the ratio CO:N₂ = 2:1. The initial temperature and pressure of the combustion products were assumed to be in the range T₀ = 1.5–3 kK and p₀ = 50–1000 atm. It was found that, firstly, the maxima of unsaturated gain occur at T₀ = 2.1 kK and p₀ = 250 atm and amount to ~ 1%/cm; secondly, the maximum gain and the minimum losses of the total vibrational energy in the course of expansion in a nozzle are obtained for near optimal values of the expansion ratio of a planar profile nozzle (amounting to 150) and of the length of its supersonic part (~ 1 m); thirdly, the operation of a CO gasdynamic laser is in principle possible at high pressures (up to 1000 atm) of the working mixture and for nozzle heights in the throat cross section exceeding the hitherto known values of this height.