Research on HCl Chemical Laser

Research efforts and results are summarized for an investigation whose objectives are to characterize the reaction mechanism of the cw combustion-driven chain-reaction HCl laser, select an optimum set of operating conditions, demonstrate the magnitude of the specific power which can be experimentally achieved, and predict the performance potential of the HCl laser at high cavity static pressures. These objectives are being pursued by making analytical calculations and experimental measurements. A computer program, CHEMIX, is being used to model the performance of the chain-reaction laser and the validity of these computations is being investigated by making comparisons with the results of chemiluminescent emission spectroscopy and optical power measurements.