Article on Trident Laser Facility for NA-11 Stockpile Stewardship Quarterly

Technical Report · Mon Aug 13 00:00:00 EDT 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1048839· OSTI ID:1048839

Barnes, Cris W. ^[1]

---

1. Los Alamos National Laboratory

The Trident Intermediate-Scale Laser Facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory is an extremely versatile Nd:glass laser system dedicated to high energy density laboratory physics and weapons physics research and fundamental laser-matter interactions. Trident is a three-beam, 200 J/beam at the second harmonic for glass (527 nm wavelength), facility with tremendous flexibility and high beam quality. Pulse durations varying over 6 orders of magnitude, from 0.5 picoseconds to 1.0 microsecs, can be directed to either of two different target chambers with changeable illumination geometries, including the ability to achieve near-diffraction limited focus. This provides a unique range of capability at one facility from sub-picosecond pulses (and high-intensity laser science) to nanosecond pulses (and LPI physics relevant to ICF) to microsecond pulses (and driving flyer plates for supported shock dynamic materials science.) When in short-pulse mode (less than picosecond pulse), a single beam can provide up to 200 TW of power with uniquely controllable and measured pre-pulse contrast of 10 orders of magnitude. A recent external capability review at Los Alamos concluded that 'Trident is generating excellent, cutting edge science and is a leading intermediate scale laser system worldwide.'

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/LANL
• DOE Contract Number: AC52-06NA25396
• OSTI ID: 1048839
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-12-24062; TRN: US1204377
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
ENERGY DENSITY
FLEXIBILITY
GLASS
HARMONICS
ILLUMINANCE
LANL
LASERS
PHYSICS
PLATES
STOCKPILES
TARGET CHAMBERS
WEAPONS