A Scalable, All Gas Singlet Oxygen Generator for the Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser

"A novel, electric/optical hybrid generator of singlet delta oxygen will be developed and analyzed. Singlet delta oxygen is the power source for the chemical oxygen iodine laser. This approach eliminates the use of toxic and explosive chemicals in thelaser. In this concept for a gas-solid flow reactor, organic photosensitizers are immobilized on high surface area substrates. These photosensitizers are optically excited to metastable states by well-developed diode sources. Oxygen wall collisions inthe flow reactor result in a transfer of energy and significant production of singlet delta. Fabrication of a gas-flow reactor and generation of flows of singlet oxygen will demonstrate concept feasibility. The combination of experimental testing andsystem modeling will culminate in a detailed design for a multi-kilowatt singlet oxygen generator. If proven successful, the generator will eliminate the technical problems of the aqueous peroxide-based COIL generators and provide an efficient allgas-phase, singlet oxygen generator for a wide assortment of laser applications in SBL, ABL and tactical missions. Additionally, the gas-flow rector will enable a commercial version of an oxygen iodine laser for high power material processingapplications. The generator concepts examined in this proposal have the potential to impact high energy laser programs of the future. The knowledge gained in this effort will provide the basis for which to d