Advanced Chemical Iodine Lasers

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) proposes a Phase II SBIR program to develop and demonstrate an advanced Electric Oxygen-Iodine (EOIL) laser system using PSI’s microwave driven plasma technology to generate singlet oxygen at 1 to 5 kW discharge power. The successful Phase I program demonstrated up to 100 W of singlet oxygen power in the effluent flow from a 1 kW microwave discharge. The specific objectives of the Phase II program are to (1) identify and manipulate the key reactive species and their kinetics effects on singlet oxygen production, small-signal gain, and laser output efficiency, (2) develop, test, and utilize a kinetics model for the microwave-driven EOIL reaction system, and (3) develop initial scaling parameters for EOIL power, flow rate, and efficiency. At the conclusion of the program, PSI will deliver to AFRL a state-of-the-art ultraviolet absorption diagnostic for ozone measurements, and a kinetic model package of elementary reactions and rate coefficients. Successful completion of the Phase II research will result in the first operation of a lasing EOIL system at kW-level discharge powers, a comprehensive new data base quantifying the chemical kinetics requirements for maximum lasing efficiency, and breakthrough demonstration of the scaling properties for higher powers.