The effect of the geometry of the active medium on the performance of SF/sub 6/+H/sub 2/ pumped HF laser

Experimental study of a pulsed, electric-discharge-initiated, SF/sub 6/+H/sub 2/ pumped HF chemical laser is presented. The reactants were premixed and the laser medium was preionized by means of a plasma cathode. The laser pulse energy, as a function of the discharge voltage, was measured for various laser medium parameters. It was concluded that the ratio between the width and height of the active volume is an important issue in the laser performance.