Emission of a pulsed purely rotational transition chemical H2-F2 laser

The possibility of obtaining efficient emission at purely rotational transitions of HF molecules in a pulsed chemical hydrogen fluoride laser is studied theoretically. The operation of a H(2)-F(2) laser with a gas pressure of 1.1 atm emitting at the v, j -> v, j -> v (v=1-6, j=10-14) transitions is simulated taking into account resonance VR processes. The total specific laser energy release calculated over all the vibrational levels is 5.5 J L(-1) on purely rotational transitions at lambda similar to 17 mu m (j = 14), 3.5 J L(-1) at lambda similar to 18.5 mu m (j = 13), and 2.5 J L(-1) at lambda similar to 20 mu m (j = 12).