Photostimulated pulsed HF laser

A description is given of a chemical HF laser with an active medium of about 4.5 liters. The active medium was produced by a chemical reaction stimulated by flash photolysis. The output characteristics of the laser were considered in relation to the chain mechanism of the chemical reaction between fluorine and hydrogen. The experimental results were explained qualitatively using a model of the stimulated chain chemical reaction in fluorine-oxygen-hydrogen mixtures. These results were in agreement with those reported by other workers.