Numerical investigation of a purely chemical generator of atomic gaseous hydrogen (deuterium) and of a cw H(D)–O3–CO2 laser utilizing this generator

A numerical investigation is reported of a generator of atomic gaseous hydrogen (or deuterium) and of a cw low-toxicity H(D)–O₃–CO₂ laser utilizing this generator. A high nonequilibrium concentration of H (D) atoms is achieved in a supersonic oxygen–hydrogen (or oxygen–deuterium) flame in this generator. Hydrogen (deuterium) combustion regimes convenient for experimental realization and characterized by a molar concentration of atomic hydrogen (deuterium) in the flame by up to ≈15%, are identified. Numerical optimization of all the components of a cw laser system in respect of the principal parameters is used to show that a cw D–O₃–CO₂ laser utilizing this chemical generator of deuterium atoms can have high output characteristics: a specific output power of ≈140 W·sec·g^–1, a chemical efficiency of ≈10%, and an inversion zone of over 30 cm length in the downstream direction.