Investigation of the energetics of a pulsed chemical H2–F2 laser at low partial pressures of hydrogen and fluorine

The results are presented of an experimental investigation of the energy characteristics of an H₂–F₂ laser with partial pressures of F₂ and H₂ of 3 Torr, as a function of the initial initiation α and of the pressure of the diluent gas (He or SF₆). In an F₂:H₂:O₂:He = 3:3:1.2:30 Torr gas mixture when α = 8%, a specific output energy per unit volume of ε_v = 4.4 J/liter was obtained for a specific output energy per unit mass of ε_m = 330 J/g. The results obtained provided evidence of the advantage of using the chain excitation mechanism in cw HF lasers.