Chemical oxygen-iodine laser: Recent advances as a chemical device

Recent advances in chemical oxygen-iodine lasers (COIL) are reviewed. In this paper, developments of the COIL as a unique chemical device, whose product is not a chemical substance but coherent photons is emphasized. The key component of a COIL is the singlet oxygen generator (SOG). The unique principles of modern SOGs are reviewed. For high-efficiency operation, rapid mixing of oxygen and iodine is of primarly importance. The latest mixing enhancement techniques are reviewed. Applications of ultrahigh-power COILs are presented. The text was submitted by the author in English.