Janice K. Lawson

Kinoform phase plates for focal plane irradiance profile control

A versatile, rapidly convergent, iterative algorithm is presented for the construction of kinoform phase plates for tailoring the far-field intensity distribution of laser beams. The method consists of repeated Fourier transforming between the near-field and the far-field planes with constraints imposed in each plane. For application to inertial confinement fusion, the converged far-field pattern contains more than 95% of the incident energy inside a desired region and is relatively insensitive to beam aberrations.

NIF final optics system: frequency conversion and beam conditioning

Installation and commissioning of the first of forty-eight Final Optics Assemblies on the National Ignition Facility was completed this past year. This activity culminated in the delivery of first light to a target. The final optics design is described and selected results from first-article commissioning and performance tests are presented.

Power spectral density specifications for high-power laser systems

This paper describes the use of Fourier techniques to characterize the transmitted and reflected wavefront of optical components. Specifically, a power spectral density (PSD), approach is used. High power solid-state lasers exhibit non-linear amplification of specific spatial frequencies. Thus, specifications that limit the amplitude of these spatial frequencies are necessary in the design of these systems. Further, NIF optical components have square, rectangular or irregularly shaped apertures with major dimensions up to 800 nm. Components with non-circular apertures can not be analyzed correctly with Zernicke polynomials since these functions are an orthogonal set for circular apertures only. A more complete and powerful representation of the optical wavefront can be obtained by Fourier analysis in 1 or 2 dimensions. The PSD is obtained from the amplitude of frequency components present in the Fourier spectrum. The shape of a resultant wavefront or the focal spot of a complex multi-component laser system can be calculated and optimize using PSDs of the individual optical components which comprise the system. Surface roughness can be calculated over a range of spatial scale-lengths by integrating the PSD. FInally, since the optical transfer function of the instruments used to measure the wavefront degrades at high spatial frequencies, the PSD of an optical component is underestimated. We can correct for this error by modifying the PSD function to restore high spatial frequency information. The strengths of PSD analysis are leading us to develop optical specifications incorporating this function for the planned National Ignition Facility.

Harmonic conversion of large-aperture 1.05-μm laser beams forinertial-confinement fusion research

To provide high-energy, high-power beams at short wavelengths for inertial-confinement fusion experiments, we routinely convert the 1.05-microm output of the Nova, Nd:phosphate-glass, laser system to its second- or third-harmonic wavelength. We describe the design and performance of the 3 x 3 arrays of potassium dihydrogen phosphate crystal plates used for type-II-type-II phase-matched harmonic conversion of the Nova 0.74-m diameter beams. We also describe an alternate type-I-type-II phasematching configuration that improves third-harmonic conversion efficiency. These arrays provide conversion of a Nova beam of up to 75% to the second harmonic and of up to 70% to the third harmonic.

NIF optical specifications: the importance of the RMS gradient

The performance of the National Ignition Facility (NIF), especially in terms of laser focusability, will be determined by several key factors. One of these key factors is the optical specification of the thousands of large aperture optics that will comprise the 192 beamlines. We have previously reported on the importance of the specification of the power spectral density (PSD) on NIF performance. Recently, we have been studying the importance of long spatial wavelength phase errors on focusability. We have concluded that the preferred metric for determining the impact of these long spatial wavelength phase errors is the rms phase gradient. In this paper, we outline the overall approach to NIF optical specifications, detail the impact of the rms phase gradient on NIF focusability, discuss its trade-off with the PSD in determining the spot size, and review measurements of optics similar to those to be manufactured for NIF.

Use of power spectral density (PSD) functions in specifying optics for the National Ignition Facility

In the second half of the 1990s, LLNL and others will be designing and beginning construction of the National Ignition Facility. This new laser will be capable of producing the worlds first controlled fusion ignition and burn, completing a vital milestone on the path of Fusion Energy. This facility will use more than 7,000 optical components, most of which have a rectangular aperture, which measure greater than 600 mm on the diagonal. In order to optimize the performance versus cost of the laser system, we have determined that specifications based on the Power Spectral Density (PSD) functions are the most effective for controlling mid-spatial wavelength errors. The draft optics specifications based on a combination of PSD and conventional roughness and P-V requirements are presented, with a discussion of their origins. The emphasis is on the application of a PSD function for transmitted wavefront optical specifications, and the benefits thereof. The PSD function is the most appropriate way to characterize transmitted wavefront errors with spatial frequencies ranging from several centimeters to a few hundred nanometers, with amplitudes in the (lambda) /100 regime. Such errors are commonly generated by cost effective, deterministic finishing technologies, and can be damaging to the laser, as well as causing unnecessary energy loss and inability to focus, in a high energy laser application. In addition, periodic errors can occur as a result of errors at other steps in the fabrication process, such as machine vibration in a fixed abrasive step, or material homogeneity ripple. The control of such errors will be essential to the construction of future high energy lasers.

Excited-state absorption of Pr3+-doped fluoride crystals

Abstract The absorption and emission properties of the 4f-5d transition of trivalent praseodymium in fluoride crystals have been characterized, including the CaF 2 , SrF 2 , LiYF 4 and BaY 2 F 8 hosts. The emmission from the 4f5d state to numerous 4f 2 levels is observed, and the emission decay time is in the range of 25–29 ns. Attempts to measure gain on the 5d→4f transition have been unsuccessful, as a consequence of an interfering excited state absorption transition due to and electronic transition from the 5d orbital to the conduction band of the host.

Excited-state absorption spectra and gain measurements of CaF 2 :Sm 2+

We have measured the pump-probe spectrum for CaF2:Sm2+ over a wide (360–1020 nm) spectral range. We observed gain throughout most of the 730-nm emission band, although there is some evidence of excited-state absorption (ESA) in this region. A much stronger ESA was observed near 500 nm. The temperature dependence of the ESA signal clearly indicates that the absorption is associated with divalent samarium. Because of the width and strength of this transition, we assign the ESA to a 4f55d → conduction band transition. We calculated the oscillator strength for this ESA band to be 0.10 and rationalized its magnitude based on an intensity-borrowing mechanism that involves the transition from the valence band to the conduction band.

Power, energy, and temporal performance of the Nova laser facility with recent improvements to the amplifier system

High-powered glass-laser systems with multiple beams, frequency-conversion capabilities, and pulseshaping flexibility have made numerous contributions to the understanding of inertial confinement fusion and related laser-plasma interactions. The Nova laser at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is the largest such laser facility. We have made improvements to the Nova amplifier system that permit increased power and energy output. We summarize the nonlinear effects that now limit Novas performance and discuss power and energy produced at 1.05-, 0.53-, and 0.35-microm wavelengths, including the results with pulses temporally shaped to improve inertial confinement fusion target performance.

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) wavefront control system

A wavefront control system will be employed on NIF to correct beam aberrations that otherwise would limit the minimum target focal spot size. For most applications, NIF requires a focal spot that is a few times the diffraction limit. Sources of aberrations that must be corrected include prompt pump-induced distortions in the laser slabs, thermal distortions in the laser slabs from previous shots, manufacturing figure errors in the optics, beam off-axis effects, gas density variations, and gravity, mounting, and coating-induced optic distortions.