chemical oxygen-iodine lasers

Definition and meaning of chemical oxygen-iodine lasers in chemistry.

Chemical oxygen-iodine lasers are a type of chemical laser that generates near-infrared coherent light at a wavelength of 1.315 micrometers through the energy transfer from excited singlet delta oxygen to iodine atoms. They are notable for being the first electronic transition chemical lasers and are capable of producing continuous, high-power output.

In more detail

The operation of these lasers relies on a chemical reaction between chlorine gas and a basic hydrogen peroxide solution to produce excited singlet oxygen. This energized oxygen then collides with iodine molecules (I₂), causing them to dissociate into iodine atoms and exciting them to a higher electronic state. When these excited iodine atoms return to their ground state, they emit stimulated radiation. Because the reaction is purely chemical, the laser does not require an external electrical power source to pump the medium, making it highly portable and scalable for industrial and military applications.