An efficient rotational nonequilibrium model of a cw chemical laser. Final report 15 May 78-14 May 79

An efficient rotational nonequilibrium model of a cw chemical laser was developed. The essential elements of the model and their influence on laser performance were shown by detailed comparison with a model which contains boundary layer flow striations, F atom wall recombination and detailed, finite rate kinetics (typically 21 species and 143 reactions). Rotational equilibrium and nonequilibrium species profiles, saturated gains, intensity distributions and power spectral distributions were compared for several cases. The rotational nonequilibrium model was coupled to a physical optics strip resonator code.