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Title: Investigation and modeling of optics damage in high-power laser systems caused by light backscattered in plasma at the target

Abstract

High-power laser facilities may be restricted in operations by the risk of damage to optics due to the backscattering of laser light from the intended target. A portion of this backscattered light can re-enter the beam line and at sufficient fluence may damage (burn) optical apparatus. Here, the observed cumulative burn pattern on mirrors at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) due to stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) at the target is explained using detailed simulations. Our methodology involves using a measurement of a phase plate profile installed at the NIF to provide the laser input to a three-dimensional simulation of laser-plasma interaction in a target typical of that fielded at the NIF. Light scattered by SBS at the target is then followed back to the final aperture of the beam line, back through the phase plate, and to a mirror where damage typically occurs. We find that mirror damage patterns are largely dictated by the phase imprint of the phase plate on the returning SBS light. Our simulations show that the instantaneous SBS signal at the mirror varies on a picosecond time scale and is also highly modulated in space. Temporal averaging of the simulated SBS light pattern on the mirrormore » reveals a pattern in close agreement with the experimentally observed damage. Finally, understanding these burn patterns (distribution, modulation depth) may lead to future phase plate designs that limit damage throughout the optics assembly of high-powered laser facilities.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1]; ORCiD logo [1];  [1]
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  1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
OSTI Identifier:
1529191
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-759506
Journal ID: ISSN 0021-8979; 945390
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC52-07NA27344
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Journal of Applied Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 125; Journal Issue: 3; Journal ID: ISSN 0021-8979
Publisher:
American Institute of Physics (AIP)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY

Citation Formats

Chapman, T., Michel, P., Di Nicola, J. -M. G., Berger, R. L., Whitman, P. K., Moody, J. D., Manes, K. R., Spaeth, M. L., Belyaev, M. A., Thomas, C. A., and MacGowan, B. J. Investigation and modeling of optics damage in high-power laser systems caused by light backscattered in plasma at the target. United States: N. p., 2019. Web. doi:10.1063/1.5070066.
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Chapman, T., Michel, P., Di Nicola, J. -M. G., Berger, R. L., Whitman, P. K., Moody, J. D., Manes, K. R., Spaeth, M. L., Belyaev, M. A., Thomas, C. A., & MacGowan, B. J. Investigation and modeling of optics damage in high-power laser systems caused by light backscattered in plasma at the target. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5070066
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Chapman, T., Michel, P., Di Nicola, J. -M. G., Berger, R. L., Whitman, P. K., Moody, J. D., Manes, K. R., Spaeth, M. L., Belyaev, M. A., Thomas, C. A., and MacGowan, B. J. Mon . "Investigation and modeling of optics damage in high-power laser systems caused by light backscattered in plasma at the target". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5070066. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1529191.
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@article{osti_1529191,
title = {Investigation and modeling of optics damage in high-power laser systems caused by light backscattered in plasma at the target},
author = {Chapman, T. and Michel, P. and Di Nicola, J. -M. G. and Berger, R. L. and Whitman, P. K. and Moody, J. D. and Manes, K. R. and Spaeth, M. L. and Belyaev, M. A. and Thomas, C. A. and MacGowan, B. J.},
abstractNote = {High-power laser facilities may be restricted in operations by the risk of damage to optics due to the backscattering of laser light from the intended target. A portion of this backscattered light can re-enter the beam line and at sufficient fluence may damage (burn) optical apparatus. Here, the observed cumulative burn pattern on mirrors at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) due to stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) at the target is explained using detailed simulations. Our methodology involves using a measurement of a phase plate profile installed at the NIF to provide the laser input to a three-dimensional simulation of laser-plasma interaction in a target typical of that fielded at the NIF. Light scattered by SBS at the target is then followed back to the final aperture of the beam line, back through the phase plate, and to a mirror where damage typically occurs. We find that mirror damage patterns are largely dictated by the phase imprint of the phase plate on the returning SBS light. Our simulations show that the instantaneous SBS signal at the mirror varies on a picosecond time scale and is also highly modulated in space. Temporal averaging of the simulated SBS light pattern on the mirror reveals a pattern in close agreement with the experimentally observed damage. Finally, understanding these burn patterns (distribution, modulation depth) may lead to future phase plate designs that limit damage throughout the optics assembly of high-powered laser facilities.},
doi = {10.1063/1.5070066},
journal = {Journal of Applied Physics},
number = 3,
volume = 125,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 21 00:00:00 EST 2019},
month = {Mon Jan 21 00:00:00 EST 2019}
}
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https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5070066
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    Works referencing / citing this record:

    Stimulated backscatter of laser light from BigFoot hohlraums on the National Ignition Facility
    journal, January 2019

    • Berger, R. L.; Thomas, C. A.; Baker, K. L.
    • Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 26, Issue 1
    • DOI: 10.1063/1.5079234

    Optical Smoothing with Reduced FM-to-AM Conversion in High-Power Lasers Using Spectral Distribution
    journal, November 2019

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