Repetitively pulsed iodine laser with thermal gas flow cycle

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Abstract
The 1.315 mu m atomic iodine laser has been developed for repetitively pulsed operation by the use of a thermally driven fast gas flow and replenishment system. The flow, produced by thermal evaporation and condensation, removes the molecular iodine formed by photolysis which acts as a strong laser quenching agent. An all-glass construction of the laser and flow system gives long life sealed-off operation, and no iodine corrosion problems. Fluorocarbon buffer gases have been evaluated for use in providing flexibility in the operation of temperatures of the flow system in projected larger aperture oscillator systems, and for enhancing energy storage capability by pressure broadening the laser linewidth in Q-switched oscillators and amplifiers.