Gasdynamic CO2 lasers. Chemical methods for producing the working gas

A high chamber temperature and low CO2 and H2O content are necessary to improve the performance of gasdynamic CO2 lasers. These conditions may be attained by the combustion of appropriate reactants. Using carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen as reference substances, the possibility of increasing the temperature by the use of reactants with higher heats of formation is treated, and the consequent improvement in performance caused by the addition of high temperature nitrogen is discussed.