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Title: A pulse-burst laser system for a high-repetition-rate Thomson scattering diagnostic

Journal Article · · Review of Scientific Instruments
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2965733· OSTI ID:21266559
 [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Department of Physics and Center for Magnetic Self-Organization in Laboratory and Astrophysical Plasmas, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706 (United States)
  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210 (United States)

A ''pulse-burst'' laser system is being constructed for addition to the Thomson scattering diagnostic on the Madison Symmetric Torus (MST) reversed-field pinch. This laser is designed to produce a burst of up to 200 approximately 1 J Q-switched pulses at repetition frequencies 5-250 kHz. This laser system will operate at 1064 nm and is a master oscillator, power amplifier. The master oscillator is a compact diode-pumped Nd:YVO{sub 4} laser, intermediate amplifier stages are flashlamp-pumped Nd:YAG, and final stages will be flashlamp-pumped Nd:glass (silicate). Variable pulse width drive (0.3-20 ms) of the flashlamps is accomplished by insulated-gate bipolar transistor switching of large electrolytic capacitor banks. The burst train of laser pulses will enable the study of electron temperature (T{sub e}) and electron density (n{sub e}) dynamics in a single MST shot, and with ensembling, will enable correlation of T{sub e} and n{sub e} fluctuations with other fluctuating quantities.

OSTI ID:
21266559
Journal Information:
Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 79, Issue 10; Conference: HTPD08: 17. topical conference on high-temperature plasma diagnostics, Albuquerque, NM (United States), 11-15 May 2008; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2965733; (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0034-6748
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English