EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF THE CHARACT ERISTICS OF A SUPERSONIC CWCHEMICAL CHAIN-REACTION DF-CO2 LASER

Components of a supersonic cw chemical HF laser were used in an experi mental demonstration that a DF-CO2 transfer laser is feasible. The exp eriments involved a chain reaction of deuterium fluorination at a pres sure of similar to 5 kPa in an optical cavity, which was 5-7 times hig her than the pressure in the traditional HF laser. The maximum output radiation power of the DF-CO2 laser was 13.3 kW and the specific outpu t energy was 40 J/g. Ways of increasing still further the specific ene rgy characteristics were identified.