Advanced Concepts for the Chemical Oxygen-Iodine Laser

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) proposes to investigate and demonstrate the feasibility of two enabling technologies to radically improve the chemical efficiency of chemical oxygen iodine lasers (COILs). We propose to examine three potential methods forproducing flows of atomic iodine that would reduce or eliminate the amount of singlet delta oxygen required to dissociate the molecular iodine in current COIL devices. PSI proposes to use existing state-of-the-art facilities and techniques to investigatetwo photolysis methods and one chemical method for dissociating the iodine. One of the photolysis methods has the potential for allowing premixing of the iodine source with the singlet oxygen stream. This has the potential for reducing the complexity oreven eliminating mixing nozzles in COIL. PSI also proposes to test the feasibility of a high power microwave driven plasma jet (MIDJet) as a source of excited singlet oxygen. This aspect of our Phase I effort will complement current programs elsewherethat are attempting to develop an electric COIL.A successful program would demonstrate the feasibility of dramatically improving the performance of COIL devices. This could offer new important missions for the Air Force. New commercial applications of COIL devices that would become logistically andfinancially much more attractive include: laser welding, hole drilling, nuclear power plant dismantling, and gas/oil well drilling.