A.J. Bouvier

The chemical oxygen‐iodine laser: Comparison of a theoretical model with experimental results

The experimental performance of a small‐scale chemical oxygen‐iodine laser is compared to a theoretical model. Measuring the consumption of O2 (1Δg) in the region of the flame indicates that less than five molecules of O2 (1Δg) are required to dissociate one I2 molecule. It is shown that the hyperfine relaxation rates in the iodine atom increase both the laser threshold and the active transverse length of the cavity.

Comparison of emission spectra of CuCl2 obtained via energy transfer from O2(1Δg) with laser-induced fluorescence spectra

Abstract Red and infrared (≈8000 cm −1 ) emission was recorded from a flame produced by Cl 2 and O 2 ( 1 Δ g ) in the presence of hot copper, and from CuCl 2 excited directly by O 2 ( 1 Δ g ). We note similarities between these spectra and an infrared absorption spectrum of CuCl 2 . Laser-induced fluorescence spectra of CuCl 2 ( 2 Π− 2 Π g ) were excited using the red lines of a krypton-ion laser, and recorded at high resolution on a Fourier-transform spectrometer. A preliminary analysis of the series of rotational doublets observed gives T e ≈15800 cm −1 for the 2 Π u state and a well depth for 2 Π g greater than 4300 cm −1 .

Study of isotope effects in the ground state of the symmetrical isotopomers of CuCl2

Abstract Investigations of the ground state of CuCl 2 have been pursued, recording laser induced fluorescence spectra on a Bomem DA3 Fourier transform spectrometer in the range 10000–16500 cm −1 . A single mode ring dye laser, set in the red (615–665 nm), excited the 2 Π u - X 2 Π g electronic transition in copper dichloride vapour. Analysis of spectra recorded from isotopically enriched samples of CuCl 2 allowed us to check our assignment of vibrational stretching quantum numbers v 1 (⩽7) and v 3 (⩽8) in the ground state. A normal model including isotope effects has been used to fit data from all four symmetrical isotopomers of copper dichloride. The rms deviation of the fit containing about 4000 lines is 0.040 cm −1 . From this model, we find an equilibrium CuCl bond length of 0.203335(5) nm and force constant k 1 =277.28(1) N m −1 .

Isotopic effects in the ground state of the non-symmetrical isotopomers of CuCl2

Abstract The rovibrational structure of the ground state of the non-symmetrical isotopomers of CuCl 2 ( 35 Cl 63 Cu 37 Cl and 35 Cl 65 Cu 37 Cl) has been investigated. Laser induced fluorescence spectra were recorded on a BOMEM DA03 Fourier transform spectrometer in the range 10000–16500 cm −1 for ν ″ 1 = 0–12 and ν ″ 3 = 0–8. A non-linear least-squares minimization allows to obtain both rovibrational constants and isotopic factors by fitting data of one symmetrical isotopomer of CuCl 2 with the corresponding non-symmetrical isotopomer having the same copper isotope. The RMS deviation is better than 0.029 cm −1 for each case. We discuss the isotopic effects and show that breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation has to be considered.

The dissociation of molecular iodine by metastable oxygen. II: Populations of reservoir states through laser excitation spectra

Abstract The dissociation of molecular iodine by metastable oxygen has been studied through the determination of the population of iodine electronic states involved. It is shown that three main mechanisms must be considered as responsible for this dissociation. Two of these correspond to the consumption of two molecules of O 2 ( 1 Δ g ) per I 2 molecule, and the third one is a three-step process with the consumption of three O 2 ( 1 Δ g ) molecules per I 2 . The measured consumption of O 2 ( 1 Δ g ) molecules per iodine molecule has been experimentally determined to be 2 ⩽ n ⩽ 6, and this inflated O 2 ( 1 Δ g ) consumption is explained by energy loss via vibrational relaxation in the ground state of iodine.

Subsonic chemical oxygen-iodine laser: comparison of a theoretical model to experiments in the 30-watt range

The output laser power of a small-scale subsonic Chemical Oxygen-Iodine Laser has been improved from 5 to 34 watts with the same gas pumping system. To obtain a good agreement between the model and the experiments we have introduced the temperature effects on the reaction kinetics. We show also that the addition of a buffer gas such as SF6 achieves a significant cooling of the active medium, which in turn allows a better laser power extraction.

New emission spectra from chemically excited oxygen and potentiality as a visible chemical laser

The interaction of chemically generated metastable oxygen on various metals is examined. Spectra in the visible and the infrared are presented. A blue luminescence is seen for the first time. Small polyatomic molecules are probably responsible. An unsuccessful search for a 1aser effect has been made on a high power O2(1 Delta-g) generator

The Dissociation Of Iodine By Singlet Molecular Oxygen; Populations Of Rovibrational Reservoir Levels Of Iodine Determined From The Inversion Of Laser Excited Spectra

The dissociation of molecular iodine by metastable oxygen (O2( 1Δg)) is poorly understood. Knowledge of this process is important to assess the ultimate efficiencies of high-power Chemical Oxygen Iodine Lasers.