Short wavelength chemical lasers (SWCLS), based on overtone assistional transitions of highly vibrationally excited (HVE) hydrogen fluoride (HF), are being developed in this investigation. These hve hf swcls represent an extension of mature chemical laser trechnology (ALPHA) and near-term chemical laser technology (zenith blue) and provide higher spectral brightness and higher lethality than their longer wavelength counterparts. Other system advantages include excellent atmospheric propagation, high efficiency, specificity, and yield. This research is demonstrating laser action using HVE HF generated by the F+HI chemical reaction. A subsonic CW HF chemical laser system, together with a tunable cw dye probe laser system, is being used to: measure optical gains as a function of reagent and diluent densities, flow conditions, and other device parameters; and, demonstrate efficient extraction of HVE HF excited state populations and inversion densities. This effort is also addressing even more exoergic candidate chemical reactions that are suitable for production of high power HF SWCLS. When successfully developed, the HVE HF SWCL would be invaluable for determining essential SWCL performance parameters suitable for generating new high power laser systems. In addition, the experience gained by constructing and demonstrating a prototype swcl system could lead to the development and commercialization of other swcl systems for use at even shorter wavelengths and for research on laser device optimization, chemical reaction dynamics, etc.
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