Behavior of singlet oxygen in the oxygen-iodine transfer laser

The kinetic processes that affect the decay of O2Delta 1 in the oxygen-iodine transfer laser (COIL) are discussed. The kinetics of O2 removal in the absence of iodine are now quite well established. A brief review of this topic is presented. When I2 is added to O2, a distinction can be made between the behavior of O2 when I2 and iodine atoms are present and when I2 is fully dissociated into atoms. In the latter case, energy pooling between O2Delta 1 and I is the dominant process unless a strong I quencher (e.g., H2O) is present. In the former case, the O2Delta 1-driven chain reaction mechanism for I2 dissociation is the dominant feature of the kinetics. A detailed description of each of these regimes is critical in understanding the oxygen-iodine laser.