Gas dynamic mixing laser

A laser system comprising:

• a housing having an entrance and an exit;
• a nozzle connected to the exit of the housing to expand a first gas to supersonic velocity;
• containment means for a second gas having an upper energy level and a lower energy level;
• a chamber, including optical means for stimulating emission of radiation, located downstream the nozzle;
• means attached between the optical means and the housing for passing the second gas into the chamber to form an admixture with the expanded first gas whereby the upper energy level of the second gas is capable of being populated by collisional energy exchange with a vibrational energy level of the first gas;
• means located downstream the chamber for producing a stagnation temperature sufficiently high to thermally decompose the second gas to form the first gas;
• a duct connected at one end to the means for producing a high stagnation temperature and at the other end to the entrance of the housing to provide a passage for recycling the first gas;
• bleed means within the duct for removing a portion of the gases to compensate for the continuous addition of second gas;
• a heat exchanger located within the return duct;
• and
• a compressor located within the return duct downstream the heat exchanger to compress the first gas to a high stagnation temperature and pressure.