Numerical Estimations of Third Generation Gas Dynamic Lasers by Bow Shock Waves

Abstract

Gas mixtures are compressed by stationary bow shock waves which are detached from an obstacle. A nozzle which is laid down in this obstacle can expand these high temperature gases to get the population inversion. This mode of operation offers the possibility to quench the dissociation of the gases and to raise the source temperature of the gasdynamic lasers. Numerical predictions of such lasers are presented briefly. The main aim of calculations is how we can get a larger gain coefficient with our method than the one with the conventional method. We can get a larger gain coefficient of laser active gases N₂-CO₂- He at the high source-gas-temperature of 2,500 K, for example. Although this value of temperature lies only at the entrance of the third generation gasdynamic lasers, we must correctly know the rate constants in higher temperature region before we proceed to the future calculations of this kind.