Theoretical analysis of the kinetics of a laser utilizing a mixture of O2(1Δ) and an iodine aerosol

Calculations are made of the gain of the active medium and the specific output power of a pulsed laser utilizing a mixture of O₂(¹Δ) and an iodine aerosol. It was found that, in principle, lasing could be achieved without external initiation due to self-heating of the mixture accompanying relaxation of some of the stored energy. However, as a result of scattering of light by iodine particles and energy losses due to heating of the mixture, the specific output energy is low (~ 4 J/liter). The laser energy characteristics can be improved appreciably (up to 11 J/liter) by rapid evaporation of iodine particles using external radiation. An estimate of the electrooptic efficiency of a laser utilizing evaporation of iodine particles by flashlamp radiation gives a value of ~ 800%.