Determination of singlet-oxygen generator efficiency on a 10-kW class supersonic chemical oxygen-iodine laser (RADICL)

Abstract

With the advent of the Air Force Airborne Laser program, the emphasis of chemical oxggen-iodine laser (COIL) research has shifted toward improving the overall efficiency. A key component of the COIL is the singlet-oxygen generator (SOG). To assess the efficiency of the SOG, an accurate method of determining the yield of O/sub 2/(a/sup 1//spl Delta//sub g/), [O/sub 2/(a/sup 1//spl Delta//sub g/)]/[O/sub 2/(total)] where [O/sub 2/(total)]=[O/sub 2/(a/sup 1//spl Delta//sub g/)]+[O/sub 2/(X/sup 3//spl Sigma//sub g//sup -/)], has been developed. Absorption measurements of ground-state oxygen utilizing the magnetic-dipole transition, O/sub 2/(X/sup 3//spl Sigma//sub g//sup -/)/sub (/spl nu/=0)//spl rarr/O/sub 2/(b/sup 1//spl Sigma//sub g//sup +/)/sub (/spl nu/=0)/ centered at 762 nm, have been obtained using a scanning diode laser in conjunction with a multiple-pass Herriott cell and balanced-ratiometric detection on the 10-kW class supersonic COIL (RADICL). A series of experiments was designed and conducted to test the efficiency of the SOG under various conditions.