Design and performance characteristics of a cw subsonic HF chemical laser with 120 W power output

Abstract

The design and performance of a transverse flow cw subsonic HF chemical laser are presented. The laser provides up to 46 W (120 W) cw output power with argon (helium) as a diluent gas on a number of Pv(J) lines corresponding to v = 1→v = 0 and v = 2→v = 1 vibrational transitions of hydrogen fluoride. The measured values of electrical efficiency, chemical efficiency, and specific power with argon (helium) were 0.4% (0.8%), 1.2% (3.1%), and 13 J/g (66 J/g), respectively.