Iodine Generation for COILs using RF Plasmas

The need for an Illuminator Laser plus system weight issues for the high energy weapon laser are significant problems for the ABL. The significant challenges arise from the present approach of dissociating I2 by the use of a substantial fraction ofgenerated O2(a1D). The successful Phase I showed that RF plasma discharges rapidly dissociated an Iodine bearing com-pound, CH3I, thus providing a new source of iodine atoms for COILs. The plasma production of iodine atoms potentially frees up allmetastable excitation energy stored in the O2(a1D) population to exclusively pump the lasing cycle, increasing O2(a1D) utilization and laser system chemical efficiency by ~15%. The result is potentially increased laser power, reduced system weight and atechnology with the promise of high repetition rate (~5 to 25 kHz) pulsed COILs for target illumination and other COIL applications. On Phase II, SARA will optimize the RF transmission line, special trace gases additives and other plasma characteristics(applied to supersonic flow chemical laser systems) to increase the RF plasma dissociation efficiency. The final proof of concept will take place on a supersonic flow COIL with the RF plasma initiation electrodes designed into the primary nozzle wall orcavity regions of the device.