Closed-Cycle ElectriCOIL Technology

The primary objective of CU AerospaceOs Phase II engineering work will be to develop all-gas-phase closed-cycle electrically assisted chemical laser COIL (ElectriCOIL) technology. CU Aerospace (CUA) and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign(UIUC) believe that this challenge can be surmounted with changes to gain generator research including 1) radically new, electrically driven O2(1D) generator subsystems which are those most amenable to closed-cycle operation; and 2) the total eliminationof massive liquid phase laser fuel and pressure recovery systems by use of closed-cycle operations. Several technologies need to be merged to lead to a successful demonstration of the ElectriCOIL concept. These include discharge and injection techniques,further work with the properties of oxygen/diluent (Argon, Xenon) discharges, as well as further development of materials to convert discharge produced atomic oxygen to O2(1D) in the post-discharge region. The ultimate goal of the Phase II program is todemonstrate a closed-cycle ElectriCOIL system in a modest powered laboratory laser system. Work beyond Phase II would scale the device to higher laser powers.