Power optimization of small-scale chemical oxygen-iodine laser with jet-type singlet oxygen generator

Studies of power optimization of a 5-cm gain length chemical oxygen-iodine laser (COIL) energized by a jet-type singlet oxygen generator (JSOG) are presented. For 10 mmol/s of Cl/sub 2/ flow rate, output power of 132 W with chemical efficiency of 14.5% was obtained without a water vapor trap, 163 W and 18% were achieved when coholed (173 K). He was introduced downstream of the JSOG; under these conditions, the small-signal gain was estimated to be 0.32% cm/sup -1/. 190 W and 10.5% were obtained for 20 mmol/s of CI/sub 2/ flow rate. Replacing He by N/sub 2/ as a buffer gas resulted in a 13% power decrease only. The main key for increasing the chemical efficiency of a COIL without a water vapor trap for a given iodine-oxygen mixing system is found to be high oxygen pressure and low water vapor pressure inside the reaction zone of the JSOG. The last goal was achieved by optimizing the composition and temperature of the basic hydrogen-peroxide solution (BHP). The experimental results are discussed and related to the composition and flow conditions of the gaseous reactants and of the BHP.