High-efficiency electric-discharge chemical H2-F2 laser

An investigation was made of a chemical H₂–F₂ laser with electric-discharge initiation. A mixture of the F₂:O₂:SF₆:H₂ = 5:1:3:2 composition (p_Σ = 84 Torr) was used to generate laser radiation of E_l = 5.8 J energy and the physical efficiency was η_ph = 240%. The corresponding parameters for an SF₂-free gas mixture of the F₂:O₂:He:H₂ = 10:2:30:2.5 composition (p_Σ = 340 Torr) were E_l = 3 J and η_ph = 100%.