New type of chemical laser utilizing electronic transitions with a chain excitation mechanism

A new class of chemical lasers utilizing electronic transitions in atoms, radicals, or molecules excited as a result of oxidation chain reactions in the presence of a catalyst is proposed and analyzed. The possibilities for using these processes to achieve four lasing schemes are discussed: directly due to transitions in excited intermediate products, in an exchange chemical laser, using narrow-band "chemical lamps," and in chemical excimer lasers. Various specific active mixtures are proposed to achieve electronic-transition chemical lasers with a chain excitation mechanism.