High-Energy Laser for Detection, Inspection, and Non-destructive Testing. Phase 2
Abstract
We have completed the installation and first phase of the commissioning of the PW upgrade to the Diocles laser system. We have pumped the amplifier crystal with 8 pump beams, seeded it with the output of the 100-TW system, and amplified 4 J of input energy to 20 J. This corresponds to 400-500-TW peak power. The compressor system is also functional, and has been used to compress the amplified pulse to 36 fs. The compressed pulse has been corrected for chirp, and we have shown that the compressor does not introduce any measurable aberration. The amplified beam is now in the target chamber where it will be focused with a parabolic reflector onto a supersonic jet to produce multi-GeV energy electron beams. In the next phase, after safeguards against optical damage are implemented, the pump energy will be increased further, closer to their operational limit. The design for the upgrade to higher repetition rate has also been completed, and orders placed for almost all of the requisite components.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 21, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA581272
Entities
People
- Donald Umstadter
- Susan Enders
Organizations
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln