Development of a 1-kJ KrF Laser System for Laser Fusion Research

Owadano, Y.; Okuda, I.; Tanimoto, Mitsumori; Kasai, Takeshi; Yano, Masaaki

doi:10.13182/fst87-a25030

Cited by 10 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 5 publications

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“…The AURORA laser, along with the SPRITE laser (Hooker et al 1989) at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in the United Kingdom and the ASHURA laser (Owadano et al 1987) at the Electrotechnical Laboratory in Japan, provided data for a preliminary analysis of the suitability of KrF lasers for ICF. Based on the existing KrF lasers and design studies for future KrF lasers, we determined some strengths and weaknesses of KrF lasers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Strengths and weaknesses of KrF lasers for inertial confinement fusion applications learned from the AURORA laser

et al. 1993

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The AURORA KrF laser at Los Alamos became operational in August 1989. AURORA is the first integrated system for demonstrating the capability of a KrF laser to perform target physics experiments for inertial confinement fusion (ICF) and is currently configured as a 5-kJ, 5-ns, 96-beam device. Both laser physics and ICF target physics experiments have been performed over the last year. Of the four major amplifiers in the AURORA laser system, one performed better than expected, one performed about as expected, and two performed below expectations. The causes of the variability in the amplifier performance are now well enough understood that this information can be used to improve the detailed design of the NIKE laser currently under construction at the Naval Research Laboratory. High-dynamic-range pulse shapes have been propagated with minimal distortion through the AURORA amplifier chain, verifying theoretical predictions. Target physics experiments have been performed with intensities greater than 100 TW/cm 2 , pulse lengths ranging from 2-7 ns, and sp<">t-size diameters from 500-1100 /xm. The analysis of this first-generation kjclass KrF laser target physics facility identified the strengths and weaknesses of KrF lasers for ICF applications. Detailed measurements of amplifier performance led to a better understanding of issues for KrF laser-fusion systems, and design studies for future KrF lasers for ICF applications incorporate improvements based in part on AURORA experience.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%