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Title: Optics Recycle Loop Strategy for NIF Operations above UV Laser-Induced Damage Threshold

Journal Article · · Fusion Science and Technology
DOI:https://doi.org/10.13182/FST15-119· OSTI ID:1259762
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  1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
  2. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)0
+ Show Author Affiliations

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) houses the world’s largest laser system, composed of 192 individual, 40-cm-aperture beamlines. The NIF laser routinely operates at ultraviolet (UV) fluences above 8 J/cm2, more than twice the (3ω only) damage threshold of commercially available UV-grade fused silica. NIF is able to maintain such high fluence operation by using an optics recycling loop strategy. Successful operation of the loop relies on a number of technologies specifically developed for NIF. One of the most important is the capability developed by LLNL and their vendors for producing highly damage-resistant optics. Other technologies developed for the optics recycle loop raise the operating point of NIF by keeping damage growth in check. LLNL has demonstrated the capability to sustain UV fused silica optic recycling rates of up to 40 optics per week. The optics are ready for reinstallation after a 3-week trip through a recycle loop where the damage state of each optic is assessed and repaired. The impact of the optics recycle loop has been profound, allowing the experimental program to routinely employ energies and fluences that would otherwise have been unachievable. Without the recycle loop, it is likely that the NIF fluence would need to be kept below the UV threshold for damage growth, ~4 J/cm2, thus keeping the energy delivered to the target significantly below 1 MJ. With the recycle loop implemented during the National Ignition Campaign, NIF can routinely deliver >1.8 MJ on target, an increase in operational capability of more than 100%. Finally, in this paper, the enabling technological advances, optical performance, and operational capability implications of the optics recycle loop are discussed.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE; LLNL Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-07NA27344
OSTI ID:
1259762
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-658260
Journal Information:
Fusion Science and Technology, Vol. 69, Issue 1; ISSN 1536-1055
Publisher:
American Nuclear SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 90 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (9)

A hybrid deep learning architecture for classification of microscopic damage on National Ignition Facility laser optics
  • Amorin, Connor; Kegelmeyer, Laura M.; Kegelmeyer, W. Philip
  • Statistical Analysis and Data Mining: The ASA Data Science Journal, Vol. 12, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1002/sam.11437
journal July 2019
Design and performance of final optics assembly in SG-II Upgrade laser facility journal January 2018
Non-destructive evaluation of UV pulse laser-induced damage performance of fused silica optics journal November 2017
Investigation and modeling of optics damage in high-power laser systems caused by light backscattered in plasma at the target journal January 2019
The national ignition facility: laser performance status and performance quad results at elevated energy journal December 2018
Progress of indirect drive inertial confinement fusion in the United States journal July 2019
Formation mechanism of a smooth, defect-free surface of fused silica optics using rapid CO 2 laser polishing journal July 2019
Scalable process for mitigation of laser-damaged potassium dihydrogen phosphate crystal optic surfaces with removal of damaged antireflective coating journal January 2017
Quantitative Evaluation of Subsurface Damage by Improved Total Internal Reflection Microscopy journal May 2019

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Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
42 ENGINEERING
lasers and laser optics
laser damage
pulsed lasers
UV lasers