Investigation of a gasdynamic laser utilizing acetylene combustion products

A gasdynamic laser based on the combustion of C₂H₂–O₂–N₂ mixtures is described. Dependences of the gain and of the total and specific output powers on the pressure and temperature in the combustion chamber were obtained at pressures up to 70 atm both experimentally and by calculation. Losses due to vibrational relaxation, heating of the resonator mirrors, and removal of stored energy by the flowing gas were determined by simulating the experiment theoretically.