HCL PULSED CHEMICAL-LASER - EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY AND MODELING

Two pulsed chemical HCl lasers using the reaction between H2 and Cl2 with two types of electrode structure are described. Peak power output up to 215 kW is obtained with a plane electrode configuration, and 175 kW with a helical electrode configuration. Laser action is observed on 22 vibrational-rotational lines from H35Cl and 8 lines from H 37Cl. The pulse shape and relative intensity of lasing lines obtained by using a selective cavity for the laser with helical electrode configuration are compared with computations from a model which includes kinetic processes and stimulated emission on one single line or a pair of close lines. Computed and observed results are in fair agreement for lines of (2→1) and (3→2) bands. However, for the (1→0) band the comparison suggests that an additional process occurs to populate the v=1 level.