Jan propagation program. Propagation analysis report

The objectives of this program were to measure the performance of the BDL resonator and optical train during Series A and the Atmospheric propagation during Series B. In addition, an objective was to determine the degree of correlation between the present state knowledge of resonator, optical train and atmospheric propagation theory and experiment. All of the above objectives were met. The performance of the resonator and optical train was measured to the degree necessary to understand the device propagation characteristics. The above measurements were compared with resonator code predictions of the outcoupled fields and spectrum, and calculations of the propagation of the fields through a model of the optical train. The atmospheric propagation measurements were compared with multispectral blooming code calculation of the propagation of the resonator code predictions. The propagation calculations agreed on the average to within 20% with the measured values. The BDL (Baseline Demonstration Laser) is a large CW, combustion-driven DF chemical laser capable of an output in excess of 65 KW. The optical train utilized in these experiments utilized a beam expansion/projector telescope with an aperture of 72 cm. During the course of the measurements the laser output beam was propagated over ranges of 0.5 and 1.5 KM.