Experimental investigation of the characteristics of a supersonic cw chemical chain-reaction DF — CO2 laser

Components of a supersonic cw chemical HF laser were used in an experimental demonstration that a DF — CO₂ transfer laser is feasible. The experiments involved a chain reaction of deuterium fluorination at a pressure of ~5 kPa in an optical cavity, which was 5 — 7 times higher than the pressure in the traditional HF laser. The maximum output radiation power of the DF — CO₂ laser was 13.3 kW and the specific output energy was 40 J g^–1. Ways of increasing still further the specific energy characteristics were identified.