Gas dynamic laser
A gas dynamic laser (GDL) is a laser based on differences in relaxation velocities of molecular vibrational states. The lasing medium gas has such properties that an energetically lower vibrational state relaxes faster than a higher vibrational state, and so a population inversion is achieved in a particular time. It was invented by Edward Gerry and Arthur Kantrowitz at Avco Everett Research Laboratory in 1966.

Pure gas dynamic lasers usually use a combustion chamber, supersonic expansion nozzle, and CO2, in a mixture with nitrogen or helium, as the laser medium.

Gas dynamic lasers can be pumped by combustion or adiabatic expansion of gas. Any hot and compressed gas with appropriate vibrational structure could be utilized.

The explosively pumped gas dynamic laser is a version of GDL pumped by expansion of explosion products. Hexanitrobenzene and/or tetranitromethane with metal powder is the preferred explosive. This device could have very high pulsed peak power output suitable for laser weapons.
Q38867
laser
Concept
Q900121
molecular vibrational
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Q126904
population inversion
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Edward Gerry
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Arthur Kantrowitz
PER
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Avco Everett Research Laboratory
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Q250840
nozzle
Concept
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CO2
Concept
Q627
nitrogen
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helium
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Q1806565
laser medium
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Q6493090
pumped
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Q133235
combustion
Concept
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adiabatic expansion
Concept
Q2722912
Hexanitrobenzene
Concept
Q412241
tetranitromethane
Concept
Q1341528
laser weapons
Concept
Q5526335
Gas dynamic laser
Concept
1966-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
1966
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+2^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
2
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