Rotational nonequilibrium mechanisms in pulsed H/sub 2/+F/sub 2/ chain reaction lasers. 2: Effect of VR energy exchange

Journal Article · Tue Jan 15 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Appl. Opt.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.19.000293· OSTI ID:5803217

Kerber, R L; Brown, R C; Emery, K A

The occurrence of pure rotational-to-rotational lasing from high J levels suggests that present rotational nonequilibrium mechanisms are inadequate to explain all lasing behavior of the HF laser. A possible mechanism for explaining this behavior is vibrational-to-rotational energy transfer. The usual assumption that vibrational relaxation occurs with rotational levels at equilibrium at the translational temperature is replaced with a near resonant multiquanta VR process that results in the formation of highly excited rotational states. Computer simulations incorporating VR relaxation predicted significant occurrence of rotational lasing. A simpler model that produced rotational nonequilibrium from pumping and P-branch lasing did not exhibit rotational lasing. Rotational lasing did not decrease energy available to P-branch lasing and produced effects resembling an increase in rotational relaxation rates. Rotational lasing is very sensitive to kinetics for both VR energy exchange and rotational relaxation.

• Research Organization: Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
• OSTI ID: 5803217
• Journal Information: Appl. Opt.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Opt.; (United States) Vol. 19:2; ISSN APOPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
CHEMICAL LASERS
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LEVELS
EXCITED STATES
FLUIDS
FLUORINE
HALOGENS
HIGH SPIN STATES
HYDROFLUORIC ACID
HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
KINETICS
LASERS
NONMETALS
PERFORMANCE
REACTION KINETICS
RELAXATION
ROTATIONAL STATES
VIBRATIONAL STATES