Moderate-power cw chemical oxygen-iodine laser capable of long duration operation

Abstract

Design and operation of a cw, transverse-flow oxygen-iodine chemical laser are reported. Reactant recirculation in the O2(1Δ) chemical generator allows long duration (up to 2 h) operation. Peak powers of 460 W, and stable outputs of 80 W have been demonstrated. Power extraction efficiencies of up to 65% were measured for 80-W operation, and the implications of this observation for the I2 dissociation mechanism are discussed.