Infrared atmospheric transmission of laser radiation.

Calculations have been made of the monochromatic transmission of HF, HCI, HBr, and DF laser radiations between 2400 cm(-1) and 3500 cm(-1) for nonhomogeneous atmospheric slant paths. Aerosol extinction, continuum molecular absorption, and line absorption are included in the computations. An approximate Voigt profile has been used to express mixed Doppler-Lorentz line broadening. HF P(2)(8) and DF P(2)(8) lines are chosen from among the presently operational cw chemical lasers for detailed studies. Their transmission characteristics at different altitudes are compared with those of CO and CO(2) lasers. Comparisons of these transmittance calculations with the theoretical calculations of McClatchey and Selby and experimental results have been made, and reasons for the discrepancies are discussed.