Singlet Oxygen Generator Design For Advanced COIL With Water Vapor Control

Chemical oxygen iodine lasers are efficient, scalable, and have proven ability in generating weapons class laser power. To support the future high power COIL programs, technology improvements must be realized to more easily meet the operationalrequirements, such as for the ABL EDM phase. In particular the SOG performance with mixed base BHP must be augmented to allow operation through a wider molarity range and at higher BHP temperature to reduce magazine size and weight. Innovative methodsfor improving the COIL efficiency by increasing singlet oxygen output, reducing singlet oxygen losses, removing water vapor, and reducing liquid carryover from the SOG will further improve high power COIL performance.The proposed Phase I program will build on the knowledge gained at STI to evaluate several innovative concepts and design an optimized water vapor trap, spray separator, and sidewall liquid control configuration that will eliminate carryover and maximizethe SOG performance. Using the SOG development code developed by STI, we will investigate the design trade between two candidate WVC fluids and the geometry changes required to package the system. Additionally, the Phase II program will be developed withthe aim of proof of principal experiments to verify the design concepts.COIL is an attractive option for an industrial laser due to short wavelength and ability to be transmitted by fiber optic. Some potential industrial applications are shipbuilding, automotive manufacturing, heavy machinery manufacturing, tasks requiringunderwater cutting or welding, and there may be useful applications in the oil and gas industry. It is possible to envision a single high-power COIL feeding many fibers for industrial cutting/welding/processing application. Fiber delivered underwaterapplications appear very promising; it may be possible to use a high power, fiber delivered COIL beam to perform cutting/welding underwater and thus save the high cost of dry-docking a ship in need of repair. However, the primary market for COIL isdefense related. Consequently STI has concentrated its efforts in the development of high performance SOGs primarily for defense applications, advancing the state of the art to the benefit of both military and commercial applications.