Catalytic Enhancement of Singlet Oxygen for Hybrid Electric Discharge Oxygen-Iodine Laser Systems

We are investigating catalytically enhanced production of singlet oxygen, O2(aΔg), observed by reaction of O2/He discharge effluents on an iodine oxide film surface in a microwave discharge-flow reactor at 320 K. We have previously reported a two-fold increase in the O2(a) yields by this process, and corresponding enhancement of I(P1/2) excitation and small-signal gain upon injection of I2. In this paper we report further observations of the dependence of catalytically generated O2(a) on atomic oxygen over a large range of dischargeflow conditions. We have applied a diffusion-limited reaction rate model to extrapolate the catalytic reaction rates to the high-pressure, fast-flow conditions of the subsonic plenum of a supersonic EOIL test reactor. Using the model and the flow reactor results, we have designed and implemented a first-generation catalytic module for the PSI supersonic MIDJet/EOIL reactor. We describe preliminary tests with this module for catalyst coating deposition and enhancement of the small-signal gain observed in the supersonic flow. The observed catalytic effect could significantly benefit the development of high-power electrically driven oxygeniodine laser systems.