Mechanism of singlet oxygen deactivation in an electric discharge oxygen – iodine laser

We have determined the influence of the reaction of molecular singlet oxygen with a vibrationally excited ozone molecule O₂(a ¹Δ) + O₃(ν) → 2O₂ + O on the removal rate of O₂(a ¹Δ) in an electric-discharge-driven oxygen – iodine laser. This reaction has been shown to be a major channel of O₂(a ¹Δ) loss at the output of an electric-discharge singlet oxygen generator. In addition, it can also contribute significantly to the loss of O₂(a ¹Δ) in the discharge region of the generator.