HCl chemical lasing with HI and chloro compounds

HCL chemical laser action has been obtained from chloro compounds when HI was used as the source of H atoms. Laser action was produced on several
\upsilon = 3-2, 2-1
, and 1-0 HCl transitions when initiated by transverse pulsed discharges in HI-He mixtures containing such chloro compounds as CCl
4
, CHCl
3
, and several Freons. Both HCl and HF lasing were observed when a Freon (C
2
Cl
2
F
4
) containing F as well as Cl was used. The measured wavelengths for these HCl lasers correspond to excellent atmospheric windows for transmission of infrared radiation. No HCl lasing was obtained when HBr, H
2
S, or H
2
were substituted for HI.