Repetitively pulsed electron-beam-initiated chemical lasers from SF6–H2 and SF6–D2 mixtures

Up to 5 pulses/sec repetitive operation has been achieved with an electron-beam-initiated SF6–H2 chemical laser. Maximum laser energies of 250 mJ/pulse have been obtained from an active volume of 244 m1 and a total pressure of 600 Torr. Lasing was also observed from SF6–D2 mixtures with peak energies one-half of those from SF6–H2.