Generation and amplification of nanaosecond duration multiline hf laser pulses

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976

OSTI ID:4022386

Getzinger, R L; Ware, K D; Carpenter, J P

High-power, fast-rising pulses of hydrogen fluoride laser energy suitable for laser-fusion target interaction experiments can in principle be generated by directing an electro-optically shuttered oscillator pulse through one or more electron-beam driven amplifiers. A three-stage HF master oscillator- power amplifier (MOPA) configuration was constructed and tested using SF$sub 6$- C$sub 2$$H$$sub 6$ in which an E-O generated 4-ns-FWHM pulse was amplified in an electron-beam-excited third stage and subsequently isolated with a Brewster angle splitter. Independent experiments in which a 100-ns-FWHM pilot pulse interacted with the power amplifier demonstrated for the first time complete extraction of the available laser energy. These two results provide strong evidence that with upgrading to H$sub 2$-F$sub 2$, it should be possible to obtain nanosecond duration pulses with power levels sufficient for meaningful laser fusion target coupling experiments.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos Scientific Lab., N.Mex. (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• NSA Number: NSA-33-025753
• OSTI ID: 4022386
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--76-368; CONF-760318--1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*CHEMICAL LASERS-- PERFORMANCE TESTING
420300* --Engineering--Lasers
HYDROFLUORIC ACID
LASER IMPLOSIONS
N42210* --Engineering--Facilities & Equipment--Lasers
N70800 --Physics--Controlled Thermonuclear Research--Thermonuclear Engineering & Equipment
PULSES
TARGETS