Performance of large-aperture optical switches for high-energy inertial-confinement fusion lasers

Journal Article · Sun Aug 20 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Applied Optics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.34.005312· OSTI ID:115791

Rhodes, M A; Woods, B; DeYoreo, J J; Roberts, D; Atherton, L J ^[1]

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1. University of California, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808 L-490, Livermore, California 94550 (United States)

We describe the design and performance of large-aperture ({lt}30 cm {times} 30 cm) optical switches that have demonstrated, for the first time to our knowledge, active switching of a high-energy ({lt}5 kJ) optical pulse in an inertial-confinement fusion laser. These optical switches, which consist of a plasma-electrode Pockels cell (PEPC) and a passive polarizer, permit the design of efficient, multipass laser amplifiers. In a PEPC, plasma discharges on the faces of a thin (1-cm) electro-optic crystal (KDP or KD{bold |}P) act as highly conductive and transparent electrodes. These plasma electrodes facilitate rapid ({lt}100 ns) and uniform charging of the crystal to the half-wave voltage and discharging back to 0 V. We discuss the operating principles, design, optical performance, and technical issues of a 32 cm {times} 32 cm prototype PEPC with both KDP and KD{bold |}P crystals, and a 37 cm {times} 37 cm PEPC with a KDP crystal for the Beamlet laser. This PEPC recently switched a 6-kJ, 3-ns pulse in a four-pass cavity.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 115791
• Journal Information: Applied Optics, Journal Name: Applied Optics Journal Issue: 24 Vol. 34; ISSN 0003-6935; ISSN APOPAI
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
DESIGN
ICF DEVICES
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
LASER RADIATION
PERFORMANCE
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
PLASMA DENSITY
POCKELS CELL