Influence of chlorine on the energy stored in the active medium of a pulsed oxygen-iodine chemical laser

The observation of luminescence from iodine atoms ($\lambda = 1.315 \mu m$) was reported when methyl iodide ($CH_3I$) and propyl iodide ($C_3H_7I$) were added to a stream of products from a chemical singlet oxygen generator containing chlorine. The effective rate constant of the atomic iodine formation process $O_2^1\Delta+RI+Cl_2\overset {k_{10}}\rightarrow I+$ products was determined: $k_{10}\approx 4\cdot 10^{-32}$ cm$^6$/s for $R=CH_3$, $C_3H_7$. In the case of fluorine-substituted alkyl iodides ($R = CF_3$, $C_3F_7$), no luminescence was observed from excited iodine atoms. The presence of chlorine in the active medium of a pulsed oxygen-iodine chemical laser reduces substantially the lifetime of the stored energy. Appropriate estimates are given.