Large aperture harmonic conversion experiments to 2 omega (532 nm), 3 omega (355 nm), and 4 omega (266 nm) on the Argus laser at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are described. Harmonically converted energies of up to 346 J have been generated at external conversion efficiencies of 83%. A discussion of the harmonic conversion experiments and a brief summary of enhanced 2 omega and 3 omega inertial confinement fusion target performances are provided.
In this paper a study of stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) from relatively planar plasmas irradiated with short-wavelength (0.53 μm) laser light is reported. The Novette Laser Facility [Laser Part. Beams 3, 173 (1985)] produced several kilojoules of light in 1 nsec, which allowed it to irradiate a large spot with enough intensity to produce significant Raman scattering. These experiments measured the fluence, angular distribution, spectrum, and timing of the Raman light, as a function of the average laser intensity. Reductions in the Raman fluence at low laser intensity are attributed to collisional damping. The measured SRS fluence was larger than that predicted from convective amplification of bremsstrahlung noise, as calculated using the average properties of the laser beam and the plasma. Possible contributions to the observed scattering from enhanced noise, Raman scattering within filaments, and the absolute Raman instability at density extrema are discussed.
From the neodymium glass laser system Novette with two beams of 74 cm diameter and 18 kJ energy per pulse output in the nanosecond range, the design, the steps of the construction, and results of the system are reported. The two beams are synchronized to 5 psec and conversion to green light up to 78% has been realized. Conversion to four times the laser frequency is measured with more than 25% conversion. Simulation and measurement of laser beam properties at several locations permit an analysis to define the final Nova configuration. About half of Novette's experiments were to study short wave length laser–plasma interactions for the then better coupling by inverse bremsstrahlung mechanisms for inertial confinement fusion with laser intensities up to 1017W/cm2. Experiments were divided between high density implosion research and non-local thermodynamic equilibrium plasma conditions.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.