A compact and versatile pulse generation and shaping subsystem for high energy laser systems
This paper describes the amplifier and beam shaping section of a new pulse generation system that will drive the Beamlet laser at LLNL. The master oscillator and pulse shaping system are described in an accompanying contribution. A modified regenerative amplifier produces a gain of 10[sup 9] to bring the oscillator pulses to the mJ-level. A serrated aperture and birefringent beam shaper produce a flat-topped square beam with high fill factor. A single four-passed Nd:glass rod amplifier provides sufficient gain to generate the desired 12 J output energy in a 3 nsec pulse with very small beam profile, wavefront and pulse shape distortion. We present a description of the system components, followed by a discussion of its performance, based upon over 150 full front end shots being completed since its assembly.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 6720863
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-JC-111452; CONF-930159--14; ON: DE93007114
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Optimized, diode pumped, Nd:glass, prototype regenerative amplifier for the National Ignition Facility (NIF)
Optical Lens Duct Design Software: Project Accomplishments Summary CRADA No. TSB-1159-95
Related Subjects
426002 -- Engineering-- Lasers & Masers-- (1990-)
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700411* -- Inertial Confinement Devices-- (1992-)
AMPLIFICATION
AMPLIFIERS
BEAM SHAPING
CONFINEMENT
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
GAIN
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
LASERS
MODULATION
NEODYMIUM LASERS
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
POWER AMPLIFIERS
PULSES
RESOLUTION
SOLID STATE LASERS
TIME RESOLUTION
TIMING PROPERTIES