Characteristics of O2 (1)- I (2P 1/2) laser medium with external iodine atoms generator

The properties of active medium of oxygen-iodine laser with with external iodine atoms electric discharge generator was studied. The discharge generator and the active medium were studied using laser induced fluorescence and emission spectroscopy. CH3I was used as atomic iodine precursors. About 50% of the iodine contained in CH3I molecules was extracted in the generator. Right after the discharge 80-90% of the iodine flow consisted of atoms and 10-20 % of iodine molecules. It was found that the lifetime for the energy stored in singlet oxygen was about 30% longer, when atomic iodine was produced from CH3I in the discharge, as compared to the conventional chemical dissociation of I2 in the singlet oxygen flow.