Reduction of laser imprinting using polarization smoothing on a solid-state fusion laser

Journal Article · Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1999 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.369702· OSTI ID:335568

Boehly, T R; Smalyuk, V A; Meyerhofer, D D; Knauer, J P; Bradley, D K; Craxton, R S; Guardalben, M J; Skupsky, S; Kessler, T J ^[1]

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1. Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623-1299 (United States)

We demonstrate a laser beam-smoothing technique known as polarization smoothing. A birefringent optical wedge splits the individual laser beams into two orthogonally polarized beams that, when coupled with a distributed phase plate, produce two speckle patterns shifted with respect to one another. This instantaneously reduces the on-target nonuniformity by a factor of {radical}(2). We measured this reduction optically and its effect is demonstrated in laser-driven targets. {copyright} {ital 1999 American Institute of Physics.}

• OSTI ID: 335568
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 85, Issue 7; Other Information: PBD: Apr 1999
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING NOT INCLUDED IN OTHER CATEGORIES
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION
ICF DEVICES
SOLID STATE LASERS
POLARIZATION
BIREFRINGENCE
DIRECT DRIVE LASER IMPLOSION
TARGETS
BEAM SPLITTING
PLASMA