An all-gas-phase amine based iodine laser using molecular iodine as atomic iodine donor

The laser action of an all-gas-phase iodine laser that uses molecular iodine as a source of iodine atoms has been demonstrated. The laser is based on the energy transfer reaction between metastable NCl(a1Δ) and ground-state I(2P3/2) atoms. The replacement of iodine source from HI to I2 had been desired, but it was considered to be difficult due to the high deactivation reaction rate of excited iodine atoms by residual I2. In this system, iodine atoms are produced by microwave discharge. Continuous-wave laser output of 35 mW with a duty factor of 40% was observed. This is 70% of the output from the same system with HI iodine source.