Probabilities of the production of vibrationally excited iodine molecules in the reaction I(2P1/2) + I2(X) → I(2P3/2) + I2(X, v > 10)

Vibrational distributions of I₂(X, v) (0 ≤ v ≤ 45) molecules are calculated and analysed in the active medium of an oxygen—iodine laser. It is found by comparing the calculated values with the experimental data that during the I(²P_1/2) + I₂(X) → I(²P_3/2) + I₂(X, v > 10) reaction the probability of the production of I₂(X, v > 23) molecules is 0.1 and the total probability of the direct excitation of iodine molecules at the vibrational levels from 15 to 23 is 0.9. Based on the data obtained, the dissociation mechanisms of iodine molecules in the active medium of the oxygen – iodine laser are analysed.