Continuous-wave laser oscillation in subsonic flow on the 1315nm atomic iodine transition pumped by electric discharge produced O2(aΔ1)

Herein the authors report on the demonstration of a continuous-wave laser in subsonic flow on the 1315nm transition of atomic iodine using the energy transferred to I(P1∕22) from O2(aΔ1) produced by a radio-frequency-excited electric discharge. The electric discharge was sustained in an O2–He–NO gas mixture. Downstream of the discharge, cold gas injection was employed to raise the gas density and lower the temperature of the continuous gas flow to shift the equilibrium of atomic iodine in favor of the I(P1∕22) state. The laser output power was 540mW in a stable cavity with two 99.993% reflective mirrors.