title: Closed-form solution to rate equations for an f + h(2) laser oscillator.
abstract: Chemical lasers pumped by the reaction of atomic fluorine with molecular hydrogen emit power from rotation-vibration transitions of excited HF with upper levels as high as upsilon = 3. Collisional processes compete with stimulated emission for the energy of the excited HF. A simplified analysis is presented here for intensity, energy, and chemical efficiency of a class of such lasers. Results are obtained in closed form. A comparison with more exact computer solutions establishes the validity of the analysis despite its simplifications. A comprehensive parametric study examines the relative importance of initial conditions, optical cavity parameters, and rate coefficients for pumping and deactivation reactions.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Emanuel
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Whittier