Some chemiluminescent reactions in gases and their possible utilization in chemical lasers employing electronic active transitions

A review is given of chemiluminescent addition reactions between radicals and atoms, which might be suitable for high-pressure chemical lasers utilizing electronic transitions. Methods based on the experimental data on the spontaneous chemiluminescence or on the optical absorption in the reaction products are used to calculate the optical gain in a reacting mixture of gases, the frequency and temperature dependences of this gain, as well as the population inversion criterion. The following specific radiative reactions are considered: NO + O → NO₂ + ħω, SO + O → SO₂ + ħω, and 2Br → Br₂ + ħω. The mechanisms of the emission of light are discussed.