The chemical oxygen iodine laser in the presence of a magneticfield. I. Gain measurements and polarization effects

For pt.II, see ibid., vol.29, no.3, p.944-53 (1993). The results from a combined experimental/theoretical investigation of the influence of a magnetic field on the gain and polarization in a supersonic chemical oxygen laser are described. Theoretical calculations are presented for the normalized gain as a function of magnetic field strength and are shown to be in good agreement with the experimental data. Experimental results are given for the gain suppression for < e1 > P < /e1 > and < e1 > S < /e1 > polarization over the range 0-1000 G. Without polarizing elements internal to the laser cavity the degree of < e1 > P < /e1 > polarization was measured for field strength from 0 to 200 G, and a qualitative explanation is offered for the observed behavior