Alain Michard

LULI 100-TW Ti:sapphire/Nd:glass laser: a first step toward a high-performance petawatt facility

We have implemented a Ti:sapphire/mixed Nd:glass laser syste at LULI producing sub-picosecond pulses in the 100 TW power range. Focusing to a 1.5-times diffraction-limited spot results in a peak intensity on target over 1019 W/cm2. Significant experiments in particle acceleration, X-ray laser and other basic plasma physics researchers have been carried out since this implementation. This paper details the characteristics of the present set-up and the main path of progress towards a high performance petawatt facility.

Hydrodynamic Efficiency Measurements from Directly Driven Implosion Experiments at λ = 0.26 μm

The coupling and implosion efficiencies, defined respectively as the ratios of the thermal energy in the fuel and the kinetic energy in the shell to the absorbed laser energy, have been estimated in a series of experiments using λ = 0.26 μm laser illumination of D-T–filled glass microballoons.

Hydrodynamic efficiency as determined from implosion experiments at wavelength = 0.26 μm

The hydrodynamic and implosion efficiencies, defined respectively as the ratios of the thermal energy in the fuel and the kinetic energy in the shell to the absorbed laser energy, have been estimated in a series of experiments using = 0.26 im laser illumination of D-T filled glass microballons.