B.E. Kruschwitz

High-Energy Petawatt Capability for the Omega Laser

The 60-beam Omega laser system at the University of Rochesters Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) has been a workhorse on the frontier of laser fusion and high-energy-density physics for more than a decade. LLE scientists are currently extending the performance of this unique, direct-drive laser system by adding high-energy petawatt capabilities.

OMEGA EP high-energy petawatt laser: progress and prospects

OMEGA EP (extended performance) is a petawatt-class addition to the existing 30-kJ, 60-beam OMEGA Laser Facility at the University of Rochester. It will enable high-energy picosecond backlighting of high-energy-density experiments and inertial confinement fusion implosions, the investigation of advanced-ignition experiments such as fast ignition, and the exploration of high-energy-density phenomena. The OMEGA EP short-pulse beams have the flexibility to be directed to either the existing OMEGA target chamber, or the new, auxiliary OMEGA EP target chamber for independent experiments. This paper will detail progress made towards activation, which is on schedule for completion in April 2008.

High-energy petawatt project at the university of rochester's laboratory for laser energetics

Abstract A high-energy petawatt laser, OMEGA EP, is currently under construction at the University of Rochesters Laboratory for Laser Energetics. Integrated into the existing OMEGA laser, it will support three major areas of research: (a) backlighting of high-energy-density plasmas, (b) integrated fast ignition experiments, and (c) high-intensity physics. The laser will provide two beams combined collinearly and coaxially with short pulses (~1 to 100 ps) and high energy (2.6 kJ at 10 ps). Cone-in-shell fuel-assembly experiments and simulations of short-pulse heated cryogenic targets are being performed in preparation for cryogenic integrated fast ignitor experiments on OMEGA EP.

Performance of and initial results from the OMEGA EP Laser System

The OMEGA EP Laser System was completed in April 2008. It consists of four NIF-like beamlines that will each produce 6.5 kJ per beam at 351 nm. Two of the beamlines can be configured as high-energy petawatt beamlines that will each produce 2.6 kJ in a 10-ps laser pulse. This paper describes the current status of the OMEGA EP Laser System and some initial experimental results.

Commissioning of a multiple-frequency modulation smoothing by spectral dispersion demonstration system on OMEGA EP

A one-dimensional smoothing by spectral dispersion (SSD) demonstration system for smoothing focal-spot nonuniformities using multiple modulation frequencies (multi-FM SSD) was commissioned on one long-pulse beamline of OMEGA EP—the first use of such a system in a high-energy laser. System models of frequency modulation-to-amplitude modulation (FM-to-AM) conversion in the OMEGA EP beamline and final optics were used to develop an AM budget. The AM budget in turn provided a UV power limit of 0.85 TW, based on accumulation of B-integral in the final optics. The front end of the demonstration system utilized a National Ignition Facility preamplifier module (PAM) with a custom SSD grating inserted into the PAM’s multipass amplifier section. The dispersion of the SSD grating was selected to cleanly propagate the dispersed SSD bandwidth through various pinholes in the system while maintaining sufficient focal-spot smoothing performance. A commissioning plan was executed that systematically introduced the new features of the demonstration system into OMEGA EP. Ultimately, the OMEGA EP beamline was ramped to the UV power limit with various pulse shapes. The front-end system was designed to provide flexibility in pulse shaping. Various combinations of pickets and nanosecond-scale drive pulses were demonstrated, with multi-FM SSD selectively applied to portions of the pulse. Analysis of the dispersion measured by the far-field diagnostics at the outputs of the infrared beamline and the frequency-conversion crystals indicated that the SSD modulation spectrum was maintained through both the beamline and the frequency-conversion process. At the completion of the plan, a series of equivalent-target-plane measurements with distributed phase plates installed were conducted that confirmed the expected timeintegrated smoothing of the focal spot.

The OMEGA EP High-Energy, Short-Pulse Laser System

OMEGA EP (Extended Performance) is a petawatt-class addition to the existing 30-kJ, 60-beam OMEGA Laser Facility at the University of Rochester. Activation of the OMEGA EP Laser is complete and results will be described.

Simulations of the propagation of multiple-FM smoothing by spectral dispersion on OMEGA EP

A one-dimensional (1-D) smoothing by spectral dispersion (SSD) system for smoothing focal-spot nonuniformities using multiple modulation frequencies has been commissioned on one long-pulse beamline of OMEGA EP, the first use of such a system in a high-energy laser. Frequency modulation (FM) to amplitude modulation (AM) conversion in the infrared (IR) output, frequency conversion, and final optics affected the accumulation of B-integral in that beamline. Modeling of this FM-to-AM conversion using the code Miró [Morice, O., “Miró: Complete modeling and software for pulse amplification and propagation in high-power laser systems,” Opt. Eng. 42(6), 1530−1541 (2003).] was used as input to set the beamline performance limits for picket (short) pulses with multi-FM SSD applied. This article first describes that modeling. The 1-D SSD analytical model of Chuang [Chuang, Y.-H., “Amplification of broad-bandwidth phase-modulated laser counterpropagating light waves in homogeneous plasma,” Ph.D. thesis, University of Rochester (September 1991).] is first extended to the case of multiple modulators and then used to benchmark Miró simulations. Comparison is also made to an alternative analytic model developed by Hocquet et al. [Hocquet, S., Penninckx, D., Bordenave, E., Gouédard, C. and Jaouën, Y., “FM-to-AM conversion in high-power lasers,” Appl. Opt. 47(18), 3338−3349 (2008).] With the confidence engendered by this benchmarking, Miró results for multi-FM SSD applied on OMEGA EP are then presented. The relevant output section(s) of the OMEGA EP Laser System are described. The additional B-integral in OMEGA EP IR components upstream of the frequency converters due to AM is modeled. The importance of locating the image of the SSD dispersion grating at the frequency converters is demonstrated. Finally, since frequency conversion is not performed in OMEGA EP’s target chamber, the additional AM due to propagation to the target chamber’s vacuum window is modeled.

The OMEGA EP high-energy, short-pulse laser system

OMEGA EP (extended performance) is a petawatt-class addition to the existing 30-kJ, 60-beam OMEGA Laser Facility at the University of Rochester. Activation of the OMEGA EP laser is near completion and results will be described.

Optical Engineering of the OMEGA EP System for Petawatt Operation

OMEGA EP (Extended Performance) is a petawatt-class addition to the existing 30-kJ, 60-beam OMEGA Laser Facility at the University of Rochester. The optical engineering involved in subsystems of the OMEGA EP Laser will be described.