Experimental and theoretical studies on chemically-pumped iodine laser

Performance characteristics of a transverse-flow type chemically-pumped iodine laser (CPII), which operated at low flow velocities (2-6 m/sec), are discussed. It was revealed that Ar gas bubbled with Cl2 gas in the solution, and a nozzle installed in the mixing zone, were effective. The maximum output power of 10 W was obtained for a Cl2 flow rate of 65 mmole/min with an I2 flow rate of 0.2 mmole/min. The small-signal gain of the device was estimated both experimentally and theoretically. The experimental value of the maximum gain was 3 percent/m. This value was obtained from the dependence of the laser output power on the output coupling. On the other hand, the theoretical values were calculated in two cases where I2 was dissociated by O2(1 Sigma) and 2O2( 1 Delta). Assuming the I2 dissociation by 2O2 (1 Delta), good agreement was obtained between the experimental value and theoretical value of the gain.