| abstract |
A catalyst bed containing alumina pellets on which an active catalyst metal selected from iridium, nickel, niobium, and molybdenium has been deposited is employed to decompose a compound selected from deuterohydrazine, deuteroammonia, hydrazine, and ammonia to yield ammonia free deuterium and nitrogen or hydrogen and nitrogen at a temperature required for immediate use in a DF or HF laser which uses F atoms as the fuel. The decomposition temperature of the catalyst bed is maintained by a hypergolic reaction produced from reacting a fuel selected from the group consisting of hydrazine, methylhydrazine, 1,2-dimethylhydrazine, and blends of the same with an oxidizer selected from the group consisting of inhibited red fuming nitric acid, dinitrogen tetroxide, chlorine trifluoride, and chlorine pentafluoride. A laser employing ammonia free decomposition products of hydrazine and ammonia produced at a temperature between about 500 DEG C. and 900 DEG C. operates at a higher power output. When NH3 is present in the H2 and diluent gas, N2, a decrease of 20% in the output is experienced for each 1-2% NH3 up to about 8% concentration. |