Power, energy, and temporal performance of the Nova laser facility with recent improvements to the amplifier system

Journal Article · Sun Sep 20 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · Applied Optics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.31.005799· OSTI ID:6974038

Bibeau, C; Speck, D R; Ehrlich, R B; Laumann, C W; Kyrazis, D T; Henesian, M A; Lawson, J K; Perry, M D; Wegner, P J; Weiland, T L ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P. O. Box 5508, L-493, Livermore, California 94550 (United States)

High-powered glass-laser systems with multiple beams, frequency-conversion capabilities, and pulse-shaping flexibility have made numerous contributions to the understanding of inertial confinement fusion and related laser-plasma interactions. The Nova laser at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is the largest such laser facility. We have made improvements to the Nova amplifier system that permit increased power and energy output. We summarize the nonlinear effects that now limit Nova's performance and discuss power and energy produced at 1.05-, 0.53-, and 0.35-[mu]m wavelengths, including the results with pulses temporally shaped to improve inertial confinement fusion target performance.

• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6974038
• Journal Information: Applied Optics; (United States), Journal Name: Applied Optics; (United States) Vol. 31:27; ISSN 0003-6935; ISSN APOPAI
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
426002* -- Engineering-- Lasers & Masers-- (1990-)
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700410 -- Specific Fusion Devices & Experiments-- (1992-)
AMPLIFIERS
CONFINEMENT
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FREQUENCY MIXING
HARMONIC GENERATION
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
LASER TARGETS
LASERS
NEODYMIUM LASERS
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
NOVA FACILITY
OPERATION
PERFORMANCE
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
POWER
PULSES
SOLID STATE LASERS
TARGETS