Optimal gain-to-loss ratio for COIL and EOIL

Abstract

The two-level generation model has been applied to analyze the dependence of power efficiency of chemical oxygen-iodine laser (COIL) and electric oxygen-iodine laser (EOIL) on three dimensionless similarity criteria: residence-to-extraction time ratio γd, gain-to-loss ratio Π and relaxation-to-excitation rate ratio Λ. Power efficiency is represented as the product of two factors – the medium extraction efficiency and the extraction efficiency of resonator – each being a function of the Π. The dependences of the similarity criteria γd and Π optimal values on the kinetic and optical losses have been found. At low kinetic and optical losses, it is expedient to work with high values of γd and Π respectively. It has been found that maximum power efficiency is achieved when Π=3–8 for COIL and Π=9–17 for EOIL at the typical γd and optical losses rate.