Bromine photodissociation chemical laser

E. B. Gordon, A. I. Nadkhin, S. A. Sotnichenko


Abstract: The development of a photodissociation chemical laser utilizing the ²P_1/2–²P_3/2 transition between components of the fine structure of the bromine atom (λ = 2.714 μ) is reported. The laser utilizes an i-C₃F₇I–IBr mixture. As a result of pulsed photoinitiation of this mixture, both photodissociative pumping IBr + hν →Br(²P_1/2) + I, typical of an IBr molecular photodissociation laser, and chemical pumping RI + hν →R + I(²P_1/2); I(²P_1/2) + IBr→I₂ + Br(²P_1/2), similar to that found in a chemical laser utilizing an RI + Br₂ mixture, are achieved simultaneously. The maximum output energy of a photodissociation chemical laser is 3.9 and 1.6 times higher than the values for photodissociation and chemical lasers, respectively. The degree of excitation of bromine atoms in the second reaction, determined by laser resonance spectroscopy, is ε₅ = [Br( ²P_1/2) ]/[Br(²P_1/2)]+[Br(²P_3/2)] =0.5 ± 0.1.

UDC: 621.373.826.038.823

PACS: 42.55.Ks, 42.60.By, 42.60.Jf, 32.10.Fn, 42.62.Fi

Received: 07.09.1984

 English version: Soviet Journal of Quantum Electronics, 1985, 15:9, 1263–1267

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