Chemical lasers produced from O(³P) atom reactions. III. 5‐μm CO laser emission from the O + CH reaction

Very strong laser emission at 5 μm was detected when SO₂ and CHBr₃ were flash photolyzed in the vacuum ultraviolet (λ ≥ 165 nm) in the presence of a large amount of diluent (SF₆, He, or Ar). About 110 vibration–rotation transitions ranging from Δv = 18 → 17 to 3 → 2, except 16 → 15, were identified. The primary reactions leading to the CO stimulated emission are as follows: (Formula Presented.) The product analysis results and the variation of laser intensity with flash energy and SO concentration indicate that the following side reactions (Formula Presented.) are also occurring. Addition of a small amount of O₂ enhances the laser output by both eliminating these side reactions and simultaneously producing vibrationally excited CO via reaction (8), (Formula Presented.) which has been previously shown to generate CO stimulated emission. The effects of various reactive (NO and H₂) and inert (He, Ar, SF₆, CO, N₂, N₂O, and CO₂) gases have been examined. All additives (P ≤ 20 torr), except NO and H₂, increase the total laser output. N₂O enhances the power most efficiently, whereas CO, N₂, and CO₂ are less effective and have similar efficiencies. The enhancement of the laser intensity by these near‐resonant gases is ascribed to the depletion of CO population at lower levels which thus increases the rates cascading from higher levels. NO and H₂ quench the laser output by chemically reducing the concentration of the CH radical.