Gain and continuous-wave laser oscillation on the 1315nm atomic iodine transition pumped by an air-helium electric discharge

Abstract

Herein the authors report on the demonstration of gain and a continuous-wave laser on the 1315nm transition of atomic iodine using the energy transferred to I(P1∕22) from O2(aΔ1) produced by a radio-frequency-excited electric discharge sustained in a dry air-He–NO gas mixture. Active oxygen and nitrogen species were observed downstream of the discharge region. Downstream of the discharge, cold gas injection was employed to raise the gas density and lower the temperature of the continuous gas flow. Gain of 0.0062%cm−1 was obtained and the laser output power was 32mW in a supersonic flow cavity.