Pulse generation and shaping using the ultra-high-power laser system: VULCAN

Colin N. Danson; L. J. Barzanti; Christopher B. Edwards; S. A. Edwards; C. N. Harrison; C. J. Mistry; David Neely; Peter A. Norreys; David A. Pepler; D. A. Rodkiss; Ian N. Ross; W. T. Toner; T. B. Winstone; F. N. Walsh; R. W. W. Wyatt

doi:10.1117/12.228259

8 December 1995 Pulse generation and shaping using the ultra-high-power laser system: VULCAN

Colin N. Danson, L. J. Barzanti, Christopher B. Edwards, S. A. Edwards, C. N. Harrison, C. J. Mistry, David Neely, Peter A. Norreys, David A. Pepler, D. A. Rodkiss, Ian N. Ross, W. T. Toner, T. B. Winstone, F. N. Walsh, R. W. W. Wyatt

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 2633, Solid State Lasers for Application to Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF); (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.228259
Event: Solid State Lasers for Application to Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF), 1995, Monterey, CA, United States

Abstract

VULCAN is a multi-beam, multi-terawatt laser facility based on Nd:glass operating at 1053 nm. The system is highly versatile, supplying four experimental areas with laser radiation at a range of pulse durations from 700 fs to 20 ns, at fundamental frequency, frequency doubled, or, as a limited option, frequency tripled wavelengths. Beams are available in a number of geometries dictated by the university based programs, which at present include: cluster; line focus including x-ray laser oscillator/amplifier geometry; backlighting; probing; and chirped pulse amplification (CPA) configurations. The system has eight beams which can deliver synchronized long and short pulses including two beams which can deliver subpicosecond CPA pulses. The CPA capabilities on VULCAN are an integral part of the laser system, not only delivering sub-picosecond pulses, but allowing uncompressed pulses and multi-pulses to be delivered to the target areas synchronized with the nanosecond pulses. This paper describes the system configuration, details the means of pulse synchronization and presents some of the pulse manipulation techniques used on VULCAN to provide the laser requirements for the experimental program.

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Colin N. Danson, L. J. Barzanti, Christopher B. Edwards, S. A. Edwards, C. N. Harrison, C. J. Mistry, David Neely, Peter A. Norreys, David A. Pepler, D. A. Rodkiss, Ian N. Ross, W. T. Toner, T. B. Winstone, F. N. Walsh, and R. W. W. Wyatt "Pulse generation and shaping using the ultra-high-power laser system: VULCAN", Proc. SPIE 2633, Solid State Lasers for Application to Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF), (8 December 1995); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.228259

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