Zero-power-gain measurements in cw HF(DF) laser by means of fast-scan technique. Interim report

Technical Report · Thu Jul 15 04:00:00 EDT 1976

OSTI ID:7305291

Chodzko, R A; Spencer, D J; Mirels, H; Mason, S B; Ross, D H

An improved technique for measuring zero-power gain in a cw HF-DF chemical laser has been developed in which a cw HF(DF) single-line, frequency-stabilized TEM00 mode probe laser is used. Through use of a flat rotating mirror and focusing elements, the streamwise distribution of zero-power gain was scanned at a rate of approximately 1 mm/..mu..s with a spatial resolution of approximately 1 mm. The method, therefore, permits real-time observations of the streamwise gain profile. The zero-power-gain profile was observed for two-arc-driven chemical-laser nozzles with both HF and DF active species. The nozzles consisted of a 36-slit array with perforated tube H/sup 2/ injectors and a 55-slit array with uniform H/sup 2/ injection. The F/sup 2/ nozzle exit widths were 3.8 and 3.0 mm, respectively, and operated at an exit pressure of approximately 3 to 6 torr. For the 36-slit nozzle, a peak line-center gain of 10%/cm was measured at x = 6 mm on the maximum-gain P2(4) HF transition. A peak gain of approximately 10%/cm was also measured on the P1(4) HF transition at x = 1 cm. For DF, a peak gain of 4.7%/cm was measured on the maximum gain P2(6) transition at x = 6 mm with the same molar flow rates as the HF measurements.

• Research Organization: Aerospace Corp., El Segundo, CA (USA). Aerophysics Lab.
• OSTI ID: 7305291
• Report Number(s): AD-A-028992
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
CHEMICAL LASERS
DEUTERIUM COMPOUNDS
GAIN
HYDROFLUORIC ACID
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
LASERS
MEASURING METHODS