Active medium of a chemical oxygen-iodine laser

A theoretical model is proposed for the active medium of a chemical oxygen-iodine laser containing H₂O, H₂O₂, and Cl₂ as quenching impurities. The main rules of the behavior of the gain and of the amplification length in the downstream direction are determined. Numerical calculations are used to show that values of the gain amounting to 0.1–1m^–1 can be achieved if the oxygen pressure in the resonator is 4–8 Torr and the partial pressure of iodine vapor is up to 20–40 mTorr. Degradation of the active medium as a result of an increase in the oxygen pressure can be prevented by maintaining the relative concentrations of the quenching impurities and aerosols at suitable levels.