A simplified analytic model for gain saturation and power extraction in the flowing chemical oxygen-iodine laser

Author

Hager, G.D. ; Helms, C.A. ; Truesdell, K.A. ; Plummer, D. ; Erkkila, J. ; Crowell, P.

Author_Institution

Phillips Lab., Kirtland AFB, NM, USA

Volume

32

Issue

9

fYear

1996

fDate

9/1/1996 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1525

Lastpage

1536

Abstract

This paper describes the development of a simplified saturation model (SSM) for predicting power extraction from a chemical oxygen-iodine laser (COIL). Using the Fabry-Perot gain saturation assumption, analytic expressions for COIL extraction efficiency are presented for both constant-density and variable-density cavity conditions. The model treats mirror scattering, nonsaturable distributed losses, and diffractive losses from the mode-limiting aperture and is shown to be in excellent agreement with experimental COIL power extraction data. A comparison of the model with the Rigrod power extraction model is presented showing that the Rigrod model accurately predicts COIL extraction efficiency only in the limit that the COIL device no longer behaves as a transfer laser

Keywords

Fabry-Perot resonators; chemical lasers; iodine; laser cavity resonators; laser mirrors; laser modes; laser theory; light scattering; modelling; optical losses; oxygen; COIL; COIL extraction efficiency; COIL power extraction data; Fabry-Perot gain saturation assumption; O₂-I; O₂-I chemical laser; Rigrod model; Rigrod power extraction model; constant-density; diffractive losses; flowing chemical oxygen-iodine laser; gain saturation; mirror scattering; mode-limiting aperture; nonsaturable distributed losses; power extraction; simplified analytic model; simplified saturation model; variable-density cavity conditions; Apertures; Chemical lasers; Data mining; Diffraction; Fabry-Perot; Laser modes; Mirrors; Power lasers; Predictive models; Scattering;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/3.535355

Filename

535355