Active-medium inhomogeneities and optical quality of radiation of supersonic chemical oxygen–iodine lasers

Optical inhomogeneities of the active medium of a supersonic chemical oxygen–iodine laser (COIL) and their effect on the radiation parameters are studied in the case when an unstable resonator is used. Classification of optical inhomogeneities and the main factors affecting the quality of COIL radiation are considered. The results of numerical simulation of a three-dimensional gas-dynamic active medium and an unstable optical resonator in the diffraction approximation are presented. The constraints in the fabrication of large-scale COILs associated with a deterioration of the optical quality of radiation are determined.