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Analysis of the energetics of chain-reaction chemical lasers allowing for rotational nonequilibrium

Journal Article · · Sov. J. Quant. Electron. (Engl. Transl.); (United States)
A qualitative and quantitative analysis is made of the energetics of chemical lasers utilizing self-supporting chain processes allowing for rotational nonequilibrium. It is found that the finite nature of the rate of rotational relaxation imposes a fundamental constraint on the possible increase in the specific energy output with increasing rotational quantum number J of the emitting states, predicted by the rotational equilibrium model. The optimal values of J are determined for hydrogen halide lasers. An estimate is given of the influence of rotational nonequilibrium on the energetics of a chain-reaction HF laser for various pulse durations in the range 1 nsec--0.1 ..mu..sec. The results of numerical calculations show that the dynamics of the input signal spectrum in a chain-reaction amplifier has an optimum (giving the maximum energy output).
Research Organization:
P. N. Lebedev Physics Institute, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow
OSTI ID:
6368178
Journal Information:
Sov. J. Quant. Electron. (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Journal Name: Sov. J. Quant. Electron. (Engl. Transl.); (United States) Vol. 11:5; ISSN SJQEA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English