Experimental analysis of a chemical oxygen-iodine laser

A small scale chemical oxygen-iodine laser is described. The maximum extracted cw laser power is 4 W. Water vapor and molecular iodine concentration measurements are presented in addition to the more usual fluorescence measurements. The effects of water vapor on the extracted laser power, on the dissociation of iodine, and on the quenching of the O2 1Δ–I 2P1/2 system, are observed. It is shown that a relatively large amount of water vapor can be tolerated. An interesting practical consequence is the possibility of lasing at the same power level with less dangerous 30% H2O2 instead of the highly concentrated H2O2 used in previous studies.