New active substances for photodissociation iodine lasers

The following fluorinated iodides were tested as iodine-laser active media: C₄F₉J, C₅F₁₁J, CF₃OCF₂CF₂J, and C₃F₇OCF₂CF₂J. A stimulated emission output energy of 80–85 mJ/cm³ was obtained from perfluorobutyl iodide (without an inert dilutent). This was comparable with the output achieved from n- and iso-perfluoropropyl iodides which are the most efficient active substances for iodine lasers. The lasing quenching mechanism was analyzed theoretically for a C₄F₉J laser.