It has been long recognized that continuous-wave (CW) chemical lasers represent an extremely complex interaction between fluid mechanics, chemical kinetics, and optical physics. The chemical oxygen-iodine laser presents additional problems in that the energy storage medium, singlet oxygen, is generated by a liquid-gas phase reaction. The kinetics of chemical oxygen-iodine lasers can be divided into five categories: 1) the chemistry of singlet oxygen generators, 2) the chemistry of COIL in the presence of water aerosols, 3) transport of singlet oxygen in the absence of iodine, 4) the dissociation of molecular iodine by excited oxygen, and 5) the kinetics of iodine atoms and excited oxygen. Only the last three kinetics topics are covered in this review. This report presents the Air Force Weapons Laboratory Standard Chemical Oxygen-Iodine Laser Kinetics Package. A complete reaction scheme including recommended rate coefficients for modeling the gas phase kinetics of chemical oxygen-iodine lasers (COIL) was established to provide a common basis for the research and development of COIL devices. A review of the experimental kinetic data base from which the model was derived is also presented. However, the fully coupled, reactive mixing and optical physics problems inherent in supersonic chemical oxygen-iodine lasers are not addressed. (aw).

Lasers with a gaseous active medium offer high flexibility, wide tunability, and advantages in cost, beam quality, and power scalability. Gas lasers have tended to become overshadowed by the recent popularity and proliferation of semiconductor lasers. As a result of this shift in focus, details on modern developments in gas lasers are difficult to find. In addition, different types of gas lasers have unique properties that are not well-described in other references. Collecting expert contributions from authorities dealing with specific types of lasers, Gas Lasers examines the fundamentals, current research, and applications of this important class of laser. It is important to understand all types of lasers, from solid-state to gaseous, before making a decision for any application. This book fills in the gaps by discussing the definition and properties of gaseous media along with its fluid dynamics, electric excitation circuits, and optical resonators. From this foundation, the discussion launches into the basic physics, characteristics, applications, and current research efforts for specific types of gas lasers: CO lasers, CO2 lasers, HF/DF lasers, excimer lasers, iodine lasers, and metal vapor lasers. The final chapter discusses miscellaneous lasers not covered in the previous chapters. Collecting hard-to-find material into a single, convenient source, Gas Lasers offers an encyclopedic survey that helps you approach new applications with a more complete inventory of laser options.

Cities and Their Vital Systems asks basic questions about the longevity, utility, and nature of urban infrastructures; analyzes how they grow, interact, and change; and asks how, when, and at what cost they should be replaced. Among the topics discussed are problems arising from increasing air travel and airport congestion; the adequacy of water supplies and waste treatment; the impact of new technologies on construction; urban real estate values; and the field of "telematics," the combination of computers and telecommunications that makes money machines and national newspapers possible.