Optical quality of pulsed aerodynamic laser windows

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Proc. Soc. Photo-Opt. Instrum. Eng.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6518923

Kulkarny, V A; Shwartz, J; Briones, R A

The feasibility of using a shock tube-generated pulsed flow field as a single-shot window for short, high-energy laser pulses is investigated, with a view to single pulse gas laser-driven, inertial confinement fusion facility application. A scribed diaphragm shock tube with glass endwalls was used to simulate the window, and a ruby laser pulse was transmitted along the tube axis after the diaphragm burst. Pressure wave field optical quality and turbulent contact interface were recorded holographically at different delay times for a variety of pressures and gas compositions in the driver and driven sections of the shock tube. Interferograms were interpreted by means of digital techniques to determine beam-quality degradations, and showed that a beam quality of 1.33, adequate for laser fusion use, was routinely obtainable at the ruby laser wavelength.

• Research Organization: TRW Defense and Space Systems Group, Redondo Beach, CA
• OSTI ID: 6518923
• Report Number(s): CONF-810429-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Proc. Soc. Photo-Opt. Instrum. Eng.; (United States) Journal Volume: 288
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300 -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700208* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Inertial Confinement Technology
CONFINEMENT
GAS DYNAMIC LASERS
GAS LASERS
HOLOGRAPHY
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
IRRADIATION
LASERS
OPENINGS
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
PULSED IRRADIATION
RUBY LASERS
SHOCK TUBES
SHOCK WAVES
SOLID STATE LASERS
TURBULENCE
WINDOWS