Operational characteristics of high-pressure subsonic mode chemical oxygen-iodine lasers

High-pressure subsonic mode operation of chemical oxygen- iodine laser (COIL) is studied. In this mode, the singlet oxygen generated by the liquid-jet singlet oxygen generator (SOG) is directly utilized in the optical cavity without supersonic expansion. Drastic reduction of the required vacuum pump capacity, and iodine consumption was obtained. We have demonstrated a 25.0 percent of chemical efficiency with a small-scale device. The scale-up version of the COIL is developed and initial tests are conducted. The device is so designed that it will operate for 2 hours at 1kW laser output. Due to the inadequate heat exchanger of basic hydrogen peroxide (BHP), performance of the system was not yet satisfactory. However, a 30-minute continuous operation o the counter-flow type jet SOG with recirculation of BHP was demonstrated for the first time.