Optical homogeneity of the active media of cw chemical HF(DF) lasers

The optical homogeneity of the active media of cw chemical lasers was investigated by interferometry. A study was made of how the optical quality of the active media was influenced by the characteristics of various configurations of nozzle arrays (classical nozzle – nozzle configuration, configurations with discrete supply of the secondary fuel to the supersonic channel, and those with radial expansion or with a honeycomb structure). The dependences of the integral optical homogeneity criterion, the Strehl number, on the main operational parameters of a laser were determined. The optical homogeneity of the active medium was reduced by intensification of the processes which improved the operational parameters.