Laser beam smoothing and backscatter saturation processes in plasmas relevant to National Ignition Facility hohlraums

Conference · Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1998

OSTI ID:5785

Berger, R L; Cohen, B I; Decker, C D; Dixit, S; Glenzer, S H; Hinkel, D E; Kirkwood, R K; Langdon, A B; Lefebvre, E; MacGowan, B J; Moody, J D; Rothenberg, J E; Rousseuax, C; Still, C H; Suter, L J; Williams, E A

We have used gas-filled targets irradiated at the Nova laser to simulate National Ignition Facility (NlF) hohlraum plasmas and to study the dependence of Stimulated Raman (SRS) and Brillouin (SBS) Scattering on beam smoothing at a range of laser intensities (3{omega}, 2 - 4 10{sup 15}Wcm{sup -2}) and plasma conditions. We have demonstrated the effectiveness of polarization smoothing as a potential upgrade to the NIF. Experiments with higher intensities and higher densities characteristic of 350eV hohlraum designs indicate that with appropriate beam smoothing the backscatter from such hohlraums may be tolerable.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Defense Programs (DP)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-Eng-48
• OSTI ID: 5785
• Report Number(s): UCRL-JC-132191; DP0210000; ON: DE00005785
• Resource Relation: Conference: 17th International Atomic Energy Agency Fusion Energy Conference, Yokohama, Japan, October 19-24, 1998
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION
Laser-Produced Plasma
Raman Effect
Brillouin Effect
Beam Shaping
Laser Radiation
Polarization
Backscattering