We have been investigating kinetics issues associated with the development of a new chemical laser in the green based on the b-X transition of NF at 529 nm. The proposed scheme involves energy pooling of NF(a¹(Delta) ) with I^*(²P_1/2) to form NF(b¹(Sigma) ). The kinetics of NF(a) and NF(X) have a strong impact on the relative populations of NF(X) and NF(b) and therefore play a central role in this system. We have measured the rate coefficients for the reactions of NF(a) and NF(X) with several relevant species including O₂, NF₂, N₂F₄, and I₂. We have also carried out a series of measurements on the energy pooling of I^* with NF(a) by photolyzing mixtures of HI and NF₂ at 193 nm to produce H atoms and NF(a). Using a flashlamp-pumped I^* laser, we optically prepared I^* to create a steady-state ratio of [I^*]/[I] during the 30 microsecond(s) laser pulse. This greatly simplifies the kinetics and allows us to extract rate constants for: NF(a) + I^* yields NF(b) + I, NF(b) + I yields NF(a) + I^*, and NF(b) + I yields other products.

Date Published: 6 June 1993
PDF: 12 pages
Proc. SPIE 1871, Intense Laser Beams and Applications, (6 June 1993); doi: 10.1117/12.145236

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 1871:
Intense Laser Beams and Applications
William E. McDermott, Editor(s)