High Power Laser Science and Engineering · 2021 · 61 citations · 26 references
EngineeringElectrical EngineeringPhysicsOpticsOptoelectronicsPhotonicsLaser OpticsLaser PhysicsNonlinear OpticsOptical AmplifiersOptical SourcesUltrafast OpticsChirped Pulse AmplificationLaser AmplificationLasersOptical Parametric AmplificationProduct Platform DevelopmentUltra-short Pulse GenerationUltrafast Pulse GenerationUltrashort Pulse Generation
Abstract Optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification implemented using multikilojoule Nd:glass pump lasers is a promising approach for producing ultra-intense pulses (>10 23 W/cm 2 ). We report on the MTW-OPAL Laser System, an optical parametric amplifier line (OPAL) pumped by the Nd:doped portion of the multi-terawatt (MTW) laser. This midscale prototype was designed to produce 0.5-PW pulses with technologies scalable to tens of petawatts. Technology choices made for MTW-OPAL were guided by the longer-term goal of two full-scale OPALs pumped by the OMEGA EP to produce 2 × 25-PW beams that would be co-located with kilojoule−nanosecond ultraviolet beams. Several MTW-OPAL campaigns that have been completed since “first light” in March 2020 show that the laser design is fundamentally sound, and optimization continues as we prepare for “first-focus” campaigns later this year.
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Conference on lasers and electro-optics 82
SLB · Optics & Laser Technology · 1982 · 1.3K citations
Petawatt and exawatt class lasers worldwide
C. Danson, C. Haefner, J. Bromage et al. · High Power Laser Science and Engineering · 2019 · 944 citations · Full text