Laser Heating for High Enthalpy Facilities.

Following a preliminary analytical feasibility study concerning the addition of stagnation enthalpy to the air flow of a hypersonic wind tunnel by volume addition to energy using a high power carbon dioxide laser, extension and continuation of these studies were carried out. In particular, further analytical studies were completed to determine the unsteady effects that may occur in such a facility, the nature of the heat transfer losses, and the nature of the flow quality. This interim report also describes the development of a high power carbon dioxide laser and high pressure test cell that will be used to perform the experiments required to establish the nature of the interaction of 10.6 micrometer laser radiation at very high pressures. Author