Research on chemical and discharge oxygen-iodine lasers

Novel methods and device configurations for singlet oxygen and atomic iodine generation were proposed and investigated for operation of the chemical or discharge oxygen-iodine lasers (COIL/DOIL). A chemical centrifugal spray generator of singlet oxygen was developed, based on the conventional chlorine-basic hydrogen peroxide chemistry. Results of theoretical and experimental investigation of the generator parameters are presented and compared with parameters of other generator types. A design of experimental device for singlet oxygen generation by means of the hybrid DC arc and RF plasma jet is presented. An alternative method of atomic iodine generation by a radiofrequency discharge decomposition of iodine compounds like CH₃I or CF₃I is described employing advanced experimental configuration. Some representative experimental results of this investigation are presented.     

Dissociation of molecular iodine in RF discharge for oxygen-iodine lasers

The dissociation of molecular iodine in 40 MHz-RF discharge was studied experimentally. This generation of atomic iodine is aimed at use in oxygen-iodine lasers. The discharge was ignited in a mixture of I₂ + buffer gas fast-flowing through the cylindrical chamber and the discharge products were injected into a supersonic flow of nitrogen. The atomic iodine number density was measured in a low-pressure cavity after mixing with nitrogen and the dissociation fraction was calculated related to the input I₂ flow rate. The dissociation fraction of 46.2% was achieved at 0.22 mmol/s of I₂ and 7 mmol/s of Ar and RF power of 500 W. Argon and helium were used as a buffer gas; discharge stability and dissociation efficiency were better with argon. At the I₂ flow rate corresponding to the operation of a 1 kW chemical oxygen-iodine laser, the dissociation fraction was about 20%. The dissociation efficiency (the fraction of absorbed energy used for the dissociation) significantly decreased with increasing in the specific energy. At a reasonable I₂ flow rate (0.32 mmol/s), the maximum achieved efficiency was 8.5% and the corresponding energy cost was 8.9 eV per dissociating of one I₂ molecule. The input energy of more than 3 kJ per 1 mmol of I₂ is needed for dissociating at least 50% of I₂. The obtained dependencies on the gas flow rates infer a good chance for scaling-up of the tested RF discharge generator for the intended application.     

Efficient pulsed chemical oxygen-iodine laser with instantaneous generation of atomic iodine by volumetric discharge

A pulsed chemical oxygen-iodine laser (COIL) using atomic iodine generated by volumetric discharge of CH 3 I is developed and tested. COIL with a gain length of 60 cm is energized by a square pipe-array jet singlet oxygen generator with basic hydrogen peroxide pumping circulations and operated at subsonic gas flow. Maximum output energy of 4.3 J, pulse duration of 50 μs, specific energy extraction from the active medium of 2.0 J/L, and the maximum chemical efficiency of 12.5% are achieved at a chlorine flow rate of 55 mmole/s.     

Chemical oxygen-iodine laser with external production of iodine atoms in CH3I/Ar dc glow discharge

A cw chemical oxygen-iodine laser (COIL) operating in a subsonic mode with a high water content of ～15% and external production of iodine atoms in CH₃I/Ar dc glow discharge has been demonstrated. A straightforward comparison of COIL performance for two cases—conventional, when I₂ was injected in the singlet oxygen flow, and when iodine atoms produced externally together with other discharge products were injected—was made. In the latter case nearly four times increase in output power was observed, suggesting that the relaxation of the energy stored in the singlet oxygen slowed down substantially, when the laser operated using CH₃I/Ar discharge products instead of iodine molecules.     

Theoretical study of a new energy extraction scheme of a chemically pumped pulsed iodine laser amplifier

A new energy extraction scheme of a chemically pumped pulsed large-scale iodine laser based on a high-pressure pulsed singlet oxygen generator is proposed. In previous investigations only low-pressure oxygen generators have been considered. Since they require a high iodine density for an efficient amplifier operation, the lifetime of the stored energy is correspondingly small and thus only small-sized iodine amplifiers appear to be technically feasible. We found, however, that when the singlet oxygen is generated at high-pressure, the iodine density required can be considerably reduced so that the lifetime of the stored energy becomes sufficiently long to fill up large amplifier cells. A numerical model is developed and the extractable energy is theoretically estimated. It is shown that 0.2J/1·pass can be extracted when an input pulse of 20 ns duration (FWHM) and 1 J/cm² fluence is fed into the amplifying medium.     

Electric generators of singlet delta oxygen for an oxygen-iodine laser

Experimental and theoretical research into electric generators of singlet delta oxygen (SDO) for an oxygen-iodine laser made at the Lebedev Physics Institute and TRINITI is discussed. Breakdown and current-voltage characteristics of self-sustained electric discharge in SDO were studied both experimentally and theoretically, indicating that SDO and pure oxygen have quite different electric features. The electric properties and spectroscopy of an e-beam sustained discharge (EBSD) in oxygen and oxygen gas mixtures were experimentally studied. A comprehensive numerical model describing SDO kinetics in different kinds of discharge was developed. The pulsed EBSD in pure oxygen and its mixtures with noble gases was shown to be very unstable and characterized by low input energy. When adding small amounts of carbon monoxide or hydrogen, the electric stability of the EBSD increases, the specific input energy (SIE) per molecular component being more than order of magnitude higher and coming to 6.5 kJ/(l atm(O₂ + CO)) for the gas mixture O₂: Ar: CO = 1: 1: 0.1. Theoretical calculations demonstrated that, for an SIE of 6.5 kJ/(l atm), the SDO yield may reach ∼20%, exceeding its threshold value needed for oxygen-iodine laser operation at room temperature. The calibration of the optical scheme for measuring the SDO absolute concentration and yield using the detection of luminescence of the SDO going from a chemical SDO generator was performed. The measurement of the SDO yield demonstrated that it was ∼10.5% for an SIE of ∼3.0 kJ/(l atm(O2 + CO)), which is about 1.5 times less than the results of theoretical calculations for such an SIE. SDO production in RF slab discharge ignited in oxygen gas mixtures was experimentally studied, experimental SDO yield being about 10%. The choice of electrode material was demonstrated to be very important. Original Text ? Astro, Ltd., 2006.     

射流式氧发生器的三维模拟研究

实现了对射流式氧发生器的三维仿真模拟,给出了氧发生器内部流场结构、各组分的分布状态等信息。研究了射流孔结构对氧发生器性能的影响。指出即便是具有相同比表面积的不同射流孔排布方式,也会对发生器性能产生影响。此外,逆向射流式氧发生器反应器中气体从双侧进入对于减小发生器对气体的阻力具有重要作用。     

High-pressure subsonic mode operation of chemical oxygen-iodine laser

A new regime of chemical oxygen-iodine laser (COIL), high-pressure subsonic mode operation, was demonstrated using a jet-type singlet oxygen generator (SOG). The laser output power of 342 W with chemical efficiency of 20.9% was obtained at the Cl₂ flow rate of 18 mmol/s and the operating pressure of 6.4 Torr in the laser cavity. The specific energy was 3.1 J/l which was four times higher than our supersonic device, and was comparable to the highest value for the supersonic regime. The experimental results were in good agreement with the numerical simulation results. Received: 26 February 1999 / Revised version: 13 July 1999 / Published online: 30 November 1999     

射流式单重态氧发生器理论模型

 射流式单重态氧发生器(JSOG)是化学氧碘激光器十分重要的能源部分，它主要是通过解气相、液相扩散方程来求解发生器出口的氯的利用率和单重态氧的产率。在实际工作中的射流发生器非常复杂，其扩散方程和边界条件为非线性，非齐次边界条件，非齐次泛定方程组，求解难度较大。通过边界条件，采用试探解的方法，解得氯、总氧、单重态氧的气相、液相扩散方程，得到了氯的利用率，及单重态氧产率的解析解，与实验结果基本相符。     

一种螺旋型Blumlein线的阻抗特性分析

提出了一种结构紧凑的长脉冲发生器,该发生器的螺旋型Blumlein线由内导体（含磁体）、螺旋型中筒和外导体（含磁体）构成,该结构实现了螺旋型Blumlein线和Tesla变压器的一体化。通过对螺旋型Blumlein线的波传输过程分析,给出了慢波系数、开关闭合电流、用于描述形成线闭合开关处界面上波行为的变量因子等参数的计算公式。采用PIC软件对螺旋型Blumlein线的部分波传输过程进行数值模拟,慢波系数等参数的模拟值与计算值基本相符。进行了恒阻抗负载下螺旋型Blumlein线的原理性实验,实验得到的负载波形与编程计算得到的波形基本吻合。     

Optically (solar) pumped oxygen-iodine lasers

We present the results of theoretical and experimental studies demonstrating the possibility of developing an oxygen-iodine laser (OIL) with direct optical pumping of molecular oxygen involving inter-molecular interaction with charge transfer from donor molecule (buffer gas) to acceptor molecule (oxygen). This interaction lifts degeneracy of the lower energy states of molecular oxygen and increases its absorption cross section in the visible spectral region and the UV Herzberg band, where high quantum yield of singlet oxygen is achieved (QY ～ 1 and QY ～ 2, respectively) at the same time. A pulse-periodic optical pump sources with pulse energy of ～50 kJ, pulse duration of ～25 μs, and repetition rate of ～10 Hz, which are synchronized with the mechanism of singlet oxygen generation, are developed. This allows implementation of a pulse-periodic oxygen-iodine laser with an efficiency of ～25%, optical efficiency of ～40%, and parameter L/T ～ 1/1.5, where T is the thermal energy released in the laser active medium upon generation of energy L. It is demonstrated that, under direct solar pumping of molecular oxygen, the efficiency parameter of the OIL can reach L/T ～ 1/0.8 in a wide range of scaling factors.     

Experimental investigation of chemical oxygen-iodine laser

Results of an experimental investigation of a chemical oxygen-iodine laser (COIL) are presented. We determine the factors influencing the efficiency of a chemical singlet-oxygen generator (SOG) of the bubbler type operating on the chlorination of an alkaline solution of oxygen peroxide. We describe SOG constructions. A cw COIL with output power up to 400 W is developed on the basis of the investigated SOG. The feasibility of a modular construction of high-power COIL is demonstrated. A power-output level of 1 kW was achieved with a two-section laser. The feasibility is analyzed of COIL operation in a pulsed regime by pulsed bulk accrual of iodine atoms. We show that in this regime the laser can be operated without a low-temperature trap. An advantage of such a regime is also the possibility of controlling, in a wide range, the lasing pulse duration. A strong influence of molecular chlorine on the energy content of the active medium is observed when alkyliodides are used as iodine donors. The possibilities of using a pulsed COIL for controlled thermonuclear fusion are discussed. Translated from Trudy Fizicheskogo Instituta im. P. N. Lebedeva Akademiya Nauk SSSR, Vol. 194, pp. 114–147 (1989).     

Characterization and Studies on Hydro Dynamically Stable Operation of an Angular Jet SOG for COIL

Chemical oxygen-iodine Laser (COIL) is one of the fast emerging high power laser source for near Infrared (=1.315m) laser generation. The heart of the system is the singlet oxygen generator (SOG) which is a pumping source for this laser. A Jet type SOG with a novel approach was designed and fabricated. Singlet oxygen was taken out of the SOG at an angle of 40° thus avoiding the carry over of droplets, which is one of the major drawbacks of horizontal system. The preliminary results have been reported in our earlier publication. The present paper discusses the performance of this generator for various operational conditions viz. diluent's gas nitrogen / helium, basic hydrogen peroxide composition, generator pressure and gas velocity. Further, conditions for the stable operation from generator as well as chlorine injection point of view have been identified.     

Experiment and modeling of a small-scale,supersonic chemical oxygen-iodine laser

We report on detailed experiment and modeling of a small-scale, supersonic chemical oxygen-iodine laser. The laser has a 5 cm long active medium and utilizes a simple sparger-type O₂(¹ ) chemical generator and a medium-size pumping system. A grid nozzle is used for iodine injection and supersonic expansion. 25 W of cw laser emission at 1.315 µm are obtained in the present experiments. The small size and the simple structure of the laser system and its stable operation for long times make it a convenient tool for studying parameters important for high-power supersonic iodine lasers and for comparison to model calculations. The lasing power is studied as a function of the molar flow rates of the various reagents, and conditions are found for optimal operation. Good agreement is found between the experimental results and calculations based on a simple one-dimensional semi-empirical model, previously developed in our laboratory and modified in the present work. The model is used to predict optimal values for parameters affecting the laser performance that are difficult to examine in the present experimental system.     

利用喇曼光谱测量氧碘激光器氧发生器的O2（a^1△）产率

利用自发喇曼成像技术实时监测氧碘激光器O2（a^1△）发生器流场组分，得到了发生器气流中O2（a^1△）和O2（X^3∑）以及N2的自发喇曼散射光谱，由此得到了不同条件下的O2（a^1△）产率。测量误差不超过8%。     

A small scale, supersonic chemical oxygen-iodine laser

A supersonic chemical oxygen-iodine laser of 5 cm long active medium has been operated utilizing a simple sparger-type O₂(¹Δ) chemical generator and a medium size pumping system. A grid nozzle was used for iodine injection and supersonic expansion. 9 W of cw laser emission at 1315 nm were obtained in the present experiments. The small size and the simple structure of the laser system and its stable operation for long periods make it a convenient tool for studying parameters important for high-power supersonic iodine lasers.     

Centrifugal spray generator of singlet oxygen for a chemical oxygen-iodine laser

A centrifugal spray generator of singlet oxygen, O₂(¹Δ_g), for driving a chemical oxygen-iodine laser was developed and its operation was experimentally studied. Modeling of the liquid separation from the gas flow showed that the separator designed could remove droplets larger than 0.5 μm from gas, which is very important for the laser operation. This result was confirmed by experiments. Experimental studies proved that O₂(¹Δ_g) could be produced with a high efficiency (chlorine utilization 0.68–0.87 and O₂(¹Δ_g) yield 0.35–0.7) even at very high generator pressures (25–70 kPa), which cannot be attained by other O₂(¹Δ_g) generators.     

氧碘化学激光器增益谱线的实验研究

 利用可调谐二极管激光器为探测光源, 直接测量了氧碘化学激光器的增益谱线的精细结构及其各谱线所占比例。同时用碘原子吸收池标定了六条谱线。     

利用喇曼光谱测量氧碘激光器氧发生器的O2（a1Δ）产率

 利用自发喇曼成像技术实时监测氧碘激光器O₂(¹Δ)发生器流场组分，得到了发生器气流中O₂(¹Δ)和 O₂(X³Σ)以及N₂的自发喇曼散射光谱，由此得到了不同条件下的O₂(¹Δ)产率，测量误差不超过8%。     

以氮气为载气的千瓦级COIL的初步实验研究

 首次在氯气流量为110mmol/s、采用方列管型射流式O₂(¹Δ)发生器(SPJSOG)以及列阵式超音速氧碘混合喷管的COIL装置上，以氮气替代氦气作为载气进行出光实验研究。初步实验获得1.8kw的激光输出功率以及18%的化学效率。