Pulsed chemical oxygen-iodine laser initiated by a transverse electric discharge

A pulsed chemical oxygen-iodine laser with a volume production of atomic io dine in a pulsed transverse electric discharge is studied. An increase in t he partial oxygen pressure was shown to increase the pulse energy with rete ntion of the pulse duration. At the same time, an increase in the iodide pr essure and the discharge energy shortens the pulse duration, Pulses with a duration of 6.5 ps were obtained, which corresponds to a concentration of i odine atoms of 1.8 x 10(15) cm(-3). This concentration is close to the maxi mum concentration attained in studies of both cw and pulsed oxygen-iodine l asers, A specific energy output of 0.9 J litre(-1) and a specific power of 75 kW litre(-1) were obtained. The ways of increasing these parameters were indicated. It was found that SF6 is an efficient buffer gas favouring impr ovements in the energy pulse parameters.