Performance of a cw double electric discharge for supersonic CO lasers

Journal Article · Sat Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.327832· OSTI ID:5489773

Stanton, A C; Hanson, R K; Mitchner, M

The results of an experimental investigation of a cw double discharge in supersonic CO mixtures are reported. Stable discharges in CO/N/sub 2/ and CO/Ar mixtures, with a maximum energy loading of 0.5 eV/CO molecule, were achieved in a small-scale continuous-flow supersonic channel. Detailed measurements of the discharge characteristics were performed, including electrostatic probe measurements of floating potential and electron number density and spectroscopic measurements of the CO vibrational population distributions. The results of these measurements indicate that the vibrational excitation efficiency of the discharge is approximately 60%, for moderate levels of main discharge current. These experiments, on a small scale, demonstrate that the double-discharge scheme provides adequate vibrational energy loading for efficient CO laser operation under cw supersonic flow conditions.

• Research Organization: Aerodyne Research, Inc., Bedford Research Park, Crosby Drive, Bedford, Massachusetts 01730
• OSTI ID: 5489773
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 51:3; ISSN JAPIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
CARBON MONOXIDE LASERS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DATA
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ENERGY LEVELS
EXCITED STATES
FORECASTING
GAS LASERS
INFORMATION
KINETICS
LASERS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
VIBRATIONAL STATES