Initial operation of a pulse-burst laser system for high-repetition-rate Thomson scattering

Journal Article · Fri Oct 15 04:00:00 EDT 2010 · Review of Scientific Instruments

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3466901· OSTI ID:22055775

Harris, W S; Hurst, N C ^[1]; Den Hartog, D J ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706 (United States)

A pulse-burst laser has been installed for Thomson scattering measurements on the Madison Symmetric Torus reversed-field pinch. The laser design is a master-oscillator power-amplifier. The master oscillator is a commercial Nd:YVO{sub 4} laser (1064 nm) which is capable of Q-switching at frequencies between 5 and 250 kHz. Four Nd:YAG (yttrium aluminum garnet) amplifier stages are in place to amplify the Nd:YVO{sub 4} emission. Single pulses through the Nd:YAG amplifier stages gives energies up to 1.5 J and the gain for each stage has been measured. Repetitive pulsing at 10 kHz has also been performed for 2 ms bursts, giving average pulse energies of 0.53 J with {Delta}E/E of 4.6%, where {Delta}E is the standard deviation between pulses. The next step will be to add one of two Nd:glass (silicate) amplifier stages to produce final pulse energies of 1-2 J for bursts up to 250 kHz.

• OSTI ID: 22055775
• Journal Information: Review of Scientific Instruments, Journal Name: Review of Scientific Instruments Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 81; ISSN 0034-6748; ISSN RSINAK
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ALUMINIUM
GAIN
GARNETS
GLASS
KHZ RANGE
NEODYMIUM LASERS
NEUTRON EMISSION
OSCILLATORS
POWER AMPLIFIERS
PULSES
Q-SWITCHING
REVERSE-FIELD PINCH
THOMSON SCATTERING
VANADATES
YTTRIUM