Influence of chlorine on the gain of a CO2 gasdynamic laser utilizing products of combustion of methane mixtures

An experimental investigation was made of the changes in the characteristics of the active medium of a CO₂ gasdynamic laser utilizing the products of combustion of a hydrocarbon fuel to which chlorine was added. It was found that the addition of chlorine increased the gain and could be used to improve the energy characteristics of the laser. A method was developed for estimating the change in the rate of deactivation of the upper active level in the thoat section of a nozzle when various admixtures were added to the active medium.