Experimental and theoretical studies of an HF chemical laser at low temperatures

The delay time between the initiating pulse and the development of the laser emission pulse for various vibrational transitions in a supersonic HF chemical laser have been measured. The measurements have been performed at various low temperatures by varying the Mach number and stagnation pressure in a supersonic-flow premixed electric-discharge initiated HF laser. The direct measurement of the time development of the lasing P-branch transitions as a function of temperature are compared to a theoretical model which yields information on the F+H₂ reaction rates.