Pulsed high-pressure chemical HF laser with electricdischarge initiation

Measurements were made of the energy and time characteristics of the radiation emitted by a chemical HF laser subjected to short-pulse (~100 nsec) electric-discharge initiation. A mixture of the composition F₂:O₂:SF₆:H₂ = 6.5:0.7:15.0:2.0 with a total pressure of 180 Torr had a specific output energy of 17.5 J/liter. The efficiency of conversion of the energy deposited in the discharge was ~65% and the active volume was ~0.3 liter.