Kinetic spectroscopy of metal atom/oxidizer chemiluminescent reactions for laser applications

This work addressed the need to discover, characterize, and understand highly efficient metal atom/oxidizer chemiluminescent reactions for their potential as chemical electronic transition laser (CETL) pumps. Efforts concentrated on the reactions of the Group IVA elements Sn and Ge with N2O. Overall rate coefficients, photon yields, and quenching coefficients were measured and mechanistic insights were obtained. Techniques for such studies were further developed and critically compared to those in use elsewhere. The experiments were performed in high-temperature fast-flow reactors (HTFFR) which allow for independent control of temperature, total pressure, and reactant and quencher concentrations and are thus uniquely suited to kinetic measurements. The detailed results are contained in a number of publications, the abstracts of which are included. It is concluded that Sn/N2O is the most attractive CETL candidate of the Group IVA element/N2O reactions but that, as a practical device, it may face development difficulties due to product quenching.