Lorentz broadening in the modeling of the HF chemical laser

Results of a survey of pressure-broadening data in the literature pertaining to species present in H2-F2 chemical lasers are described. Pressure-broadened linewidths of the HF vibration-rotation transitions were found to depend strongly on the vibrational and rotational quantum numbers as well as on the perturbing species. The experimental data were incorporated into a rate-equation model of the pulsed H2-F2 laser; where experimental data were unavailable, theoretical values were used. The calculations made from this model demonstrate the importance of including such detailed pressure-broadening information. Recent experimental results of Kwok and Cohen (1976) for HF self-deactivation were also included in the model and were taken to be a multiquantum process. Comparisons of model predictions for pulse energy and pulse duration with several atmospheric-pressure laser measurements showed good agreement.