CHEMICAL LASER APPARATUS

The laser has a vessel (20) disposed at the outlet (18) for exhaust gases leaving the laser enclosure (1). The vessel contains porous members (32 to 35) containing a mixture of calcium and glass fibers to absorbing the exhaust gases. An oxygen tank (26) is connectable to the vessel via a valve (27), and a threshold manometer (30) measures the oxygen pressure in the tank (27). Before firing the laser, oxygen is admitted into the vessel (20) to heat the calcium to enable it to absorb the exhaust gases. The manometer threshold is set to trigger the supply of reactive gases to the laser via valves (11 to 14) once the pressure has dropped to a level indicating that enough oxygen has been admitted to the vessel for the calcium to have risen to a suitable temperature for absorbing the exhaust gases. Such a laser may be used to decoy or to "blind" missiles.