Gain saturation studies in LG-750 and LG-770 amplifier glass
Experiments were performed on the 100-J class Optical Sciences Laser (OSL) at LLNL to characterize the saturation fluence and small-signal gain of a solid-state Nd:glass amplifier utilizing LG-750 and LG-770, an amplifier glass developed for the National Ignition Facility (NIF). These high quality measurements of gain saturation at NIF level fluences, i.e., 10-15 J/cm{sup 2}, provide essential parameters for the amplifier performance codes used to design NIF and future high power laser systems. The small-signal gain, saturation fluence and square-pulse distortion were measured as a function of input fluence and pulse length in platinum-free LG-750 and LG-770. The input fluence, output fluence, small-signal gain and passive losses were measured to allow calculation of the saturation fluence. Least square fits of the output vs. input fluence data using a Frantz-Nodvik model was used to obtain an average saturation fluence for each data set. Overall, gain saturation in LG-750 and LG-770 is comparable at long pulse lengths. For shorter pulse length, < 5 ns, LG-770 exhibits a stronger pulse length dependence than LG-750, possibly due to a longer terminal level lifetime. LG-770 also has a higher cross- section, which is reflected by its slightly higher extraction efficiency. 52 refs., 11 figs., 2 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 562814
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-JC-124504; CONF-9610225-42; ON: DE97053414; TRN: 98:002317
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 2. annual solid state lasers for applications to inertial confinement fusion (ICF), Paris (France), 22-25 Oct 1996; Other Information: PBD: 10 Mar 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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