Abstract:
The emission wavelength of a chemical HF laser was shortened by the use of molecular overtones as the active transitions in initiation of chemical reactions in SF6–H2S (HBr)–He mixtures by longitudinal electric discharges. The efficiency of conversion of the chemical energy into coherent radiation at the overtone frequency was ~15% of the fundamental frequency. The output radiation intensity, 103 W/cm2, was sufficient for the use of this laser as an overtone master oscillator in conjunction with an amplifier based on the H2–F2 chain reaction.