High-Power, High-Throughput Microwave Discharge Singlet Oxygen Generator for Advanced Electrical Oxygen-Iodine Lasers

摘要

A laser device includes an optical resonator, a microwave driven discharge device, and a source for a second gas. The microwave driven discharge device is disposed relative to the optical resonator. The microwave driven discharge device operates at a discharge power and gas flow rate to produce a selected amount of energetic singlet oxygen metastables flowing in the direction of the optical resonator. The second source for the second gas is disposed between the optical resonator and the microwave driven discharge device. The second gas reacts with the selected amount of energetic singlet oxygen metastables to form an excited species in an amount sufficient to support lasing of the excited species in the optical resonator.