Design studies of volume-pumped photolytic systems using a photon transport code

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Abstract
The use of volume sources, such as nuclear pumping, presents some unique features in the design of photolytically driven systems (e.g., lasers). In systems such as these, for example, a large power deposition is not necessary. However, certain restrictions, such as self-absorption, limit the ability of photolytically driven systems to scale by volume. A photon transport computer program was developed at the University of Missouri-Columbia to study these limitations. The development of this code is important, perhaps necessary, for the design of photolytically driven systems. With the aid of this code, a photolytically driven iodine laser was designed for utilization with a 3He nuclear-pumped system with a TRIGA reactor as the neutron source. Calculations predict a peak power output of 0.37 kW. Using the same design, it is also anticipated that the system can achieve a 14-kW output using a fast burst-type reactor neutron source, and a 0.65-kW peak output using 0.1 Torr of the alpha emitter radon-220 as part of the fill. The latter would represent a truly portable laser system.

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