Method for determination of the optimal chemical composition of the fuel in atomic-fluorine generators for self-contained cw chemical HF/DF lasers

A combined calculation and experimental method is proposed for selection of the optimal chemical composition of the fuel in atomic-fluorine generators for cw chemical HF/DF lasers. The method is based on general relationships that govern the efficiency of conversion of the chemical energy into the laser radiation energy and on generalisation of the results of experimental investigations of lasers of different sizes with nozzle arrays of different configurations. Bench tests demonstrate a satisfactory agreement between calculations and experiment.