Hydrogen fluoride laser
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2008-03-12T13:00:29Z
RekishiEJ
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Interwiki
{{Unreferenced|date=September 2007}}
The '''hydrogen fluoride laser''' is an [[infrared]] [[chemical laser]]. It is capable of delivering continuous output power in the [[megawatt]] range.
[[Hydrogen fluoride]] lasers operate at the [[wavelength]] of 2.7-2.9 µm. This wavelength is absorbed by the atmosphere, effectively attenuating the beam and reducing its reach, unless used in a vacuum environment. However, when [[deuterium]] is used instead of hydrogen, the deuterium fluoride lases at the wavelength of about 3.8 µm. This makes the '''deuterium fluoride laser''' usable for terrestrial operations.
The deuterium fluoride laser constructionally resembles a rocket engine. In the combustion chamber, [[ethylene]] is burned in [[nitrogen trifluoride]]. This reaction produces free excited [[fluorine]] [[radical (chemistry)|radicals]]. Just after the nozzle, the mixture of [[helium]] and [[hydrogen]] or [[deuterium]] gas is injected to the exhaust stream; the hydrogen or deuterium reacts with the fluorine radicals, producing excited molecules of deuterium or [[hydrogen fluoride]]. The excited molecules then undergo [[stimulated emission]] in the [[optical resonator]] region of the laser.
Deuterium fluoride lasers have found military applications: the [[MIRACL]] laser, the [[Pulsed Energy Projectile]] and the [[Tactical High Energy Laser]]s are of the deuterium fluoride type.
[[Category:Chemical lasers]]
[[ca:Làser de fluorur d'hidrogen]]
[[ja:フッ化水素レーザー]]