Q-switched chemical HF laser

A numerical simulation was made of pulse-periodic operation of an ultrasonic chemical HF laser with a Q-switched cavity. This simulation was based on a combination of mathematical models of cw and pulsed chemical lasers. Calculations were made specifically for an experimental HF chemical laser with a combustion chamber. It was found that pulse-periodic operation can ensure a 20-28-fold increase in the output power, compared with cw operation, at the expense of a reduction in the average radiation power by a factor less than 2. The energy per unit mass of the active medium increases with increase in the Q-switching frequency, reaching 60 kJ kg{sup -1} (which is half the value obtainable under cw conditions) at the switching frequency of 250 kHz. (lasers, active media)