Near-field nonuniformities in angularly multiplexed KrF fusion lasers with induced spatial incoherence
Applied Optics, Vol. 44, Issue 14, pp. 2805-2817 (2005)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/AO.44.002805
Acrobat PDF (1992 KB)
Abstract
Induced spatial incoherence (ISI) has been proposed for KrF laser drivers to achieve the high degree of spatial beam uniformity required for direct-drive inertial confinement fusion. Although ISI provides ultrasmooth illumination at the far field of the laser, where the target is located, it can still allow the beams in the quasi-near field to develop a time-averaged spatial structure. This speckle, which arises primarily from random-phase aberration, builds up as the laser beams propagate away from the pupil plane located at the final amplifier stage; it is distinct from any structure imposed by gain nonuniformities in the amplifiers. Because of the spatial incoherence, the speckle is significantly smaller than that experienced by coherent beams. Nevertheless, it remains a damage issue, especially for the long beam delay paths required in angularly multiplexed KrF lasers. We develop a novel algorithm for calculating the time-integrated intensities; compare simulations and measurements of the near-field speckle in the Nike KrF laser; and explore options, such as aberration reduction and optical relaying, for controlling the problem in future angularly multiplexed KrF drivers.
© 2005 Optical Society of America
OCIS Codes
(030.6140) Coherence and statistical optics : Speckle
(030.6600) Coherence and statistical optics : Statistical optics
(070.2590) Fourier optics and signal processing : ABCD transforms
(140.2180) Lasers and laser optics : Excimer lasers
(350.2660) Other areas of optics : Fusion
(350.5500) Other areas of optics : Propagation
Citation
Robert H. Lehmberg and Yung Chan, "Near-field nonuniformities in angularly multiplexed KrF fusion lasers with induced spatial incoherence," Appl. Opt. 44, 2805-2817 (2005)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/ao/abstract.cfm?URI=ao-44-14-2805
You do not have subscription access to this journal. Citation lists with outbound citation links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.
Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription
You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.
Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription
You do not have subscription access to this journal. Article level metrics are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.
Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription
Related Journal Articles 
- Experimental investigation of smoothing by spectral dispersion (JOSAB)
- Characterization of Excimer Lasers for Application to Lenslet Array Homogenizers (AO)
- Laser beam smoothing caused by the small-spatial-scale B integral (JOSAB)
- Three-directional spectral dispersion for smoothing of a laser irradiance profile (OL)
- Performance of 1-THz-bandwidth, two-dimensional smoothing by spectral dispersion and polarization smoothing of high-power, solid-state laser beams (JOSAB)
Related Conference Papers
- Using Near-Field Statistics for Interface Characterization
- High Yield Rep-Rate Operation of Electra: An Electron Beam Pumped KrF Laser
- High Yield Rep-Rate Operation of Electra: An Electron Beam Pumped KrF Laser
- Repetitively pulsed, high energy, electron beam pumped krypton fluoride (KrF) lasers
- Repetitively pulsed, high energy, electron beam pumped krypton fluoride (KrF) lasers
« Previous Article | Next Article »
OSA is a member of 