Effect of vibrationally excited О2(a1Δg) molecules on the parameters of the active medium of an oxygen – iodine laser

A comparison of the experimental and theoretical results shows that quenching of one singlet oxygen molecule leads to the formation of 4.5 vibrational quanta of the О₂ molecule on the average in the active medium of an oxygen–iodine laser. The dependence of threshold yield of singlet oxygen and of the gain on the relative concentration of vibrationally excited О₂(a¹Δ_g) molecules are studied. The threshold yield of singlet oxygen increases with the relative concentration of vibrationally excited О₂ molecules and may be several percent higher than the value assumed earlier. The gain depends weakly on the relative concentration of vibrationally excited oxygen molecules.