Significant stabilisation of self-sustained volume discharges in activ
e mixtures of nonchain HF (DF) lasers was achieved by replacing H-2 (D
-2) with hydrocarbons (carbon deuterides). These discharges were used
in chemical lasers with large active volumes and high output parameter
s. An active volume of 5 litres yielded an output energy of 31 J from
an HF laser and 24 J from a DF laser with the technical efficiency of
2.8% and 2.2%, respectively.