A more accurate method of measuring the cross section for the 52P1/2→52P3/2 transition of atomic iodine in photodissociation lasers based on dynamic self-diffraction

We have developed a new method for measuring the cross section for the 5²P_1/2→5²P_3/2 transition of atomic iodine in photodissociation lasers. The inverse recombination of iodine atoms is monitored via dynamic self-diffraction of the laser radiation in the active medium. We have measured the cross section in mixtures of H-C₃F₇I and CF₃I with Xe. This new method substantially increases the accuracy with which the cross section can be measured. Our results are highly reproducible, with a dispersion of no more than 3%.