Development of the electric discharge oxygen-iodine laser

In the hybrid electric discharge Oxygen-Iodine laser (ElectricOIL), the desired O2(a1&Dgr;) is produced using a low-to-medium pressure electric discharge. The discharge production of atomic oxygen, ozone, and other excited species adds higher levels of complexity to the post-discharge kinetics which are not encountered in a classic purely chemical O2(a1&Dgr;) generation system. Experimental studies over the past six years using electric discharges have demonstrated O2(a) yields greater than 20%, gain, and cw laser power. Several modeling studies have also been performed for ElectricOIL and similar systems. As the development of this type of iodine laser continues, the roles of oxygen atoms and NO/NO2 are found to be very significant in both the discharge region and downstream of the discharge region. A series of O2(1&Dgr;) emission, I* emission, O-atom titrations, gain, and O2(1&Dgr;) yield, NO2* emission, and laser power measurements have been taken to explore the complex phenomena that are being observed. As the overall system is better understood improvements are being made in laser power and efficiency.