Oxygen–iodine laser with a photodissociation source of excited O2(a1Δg) oxygen

Stimulated emission from an oxygen–iodine laser with a photodissociation source of excited oxygen O₂(¹Δ), based on ultraviolet photolysis of ozone, was observed for the first time. The ozone photolysis products, particularly O(¹D) atoms, had an unfavorable influence on the lasing parameters. A study was made of the possibility of using CO₂, N₂, and N₂O gases as effective agents for quenching of O (¹D). An output energy ε = 0.8 mJ/cm³ and an efficiency of energy transfer from the O₂(¹Δ) molecules to iodine atoms amounting to η = 41% obtained for a mixture of the composition characterized by the ratio CF₃I:O₃:SF₆:He:N₂O = 0.055:0.45:11:21:6 Torr were close to the corresponding values reported for an oxygen–iodine laser with a chemical generator of O₂(¹Δ).