TIR-1 carbon dioxide laser system for fusion

Area of Science:

• Fusion Energy Research
• Plasma Physics
• Laser Technology

Background:

• Pulsed carbon dioxide (CO(2)) lasers are under development for fusion research in Russia.
• Two main approaches are pursued: microsecond laser pulse plasma heating and nanosecond CO(2) laser inertial confinement fusion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop nanosecond CO(2) laser technology for inertial confinement fusion.
• To investigate laser-target interactions at a 10-micrometer wavelength.

Main Methods:

• Construction of the TIR-1 system, designed for high-energy, short-duration CO(2) laser pulses.
• Utilizing an oscillator-preamplifier system for pulse generation with high energy contrast.
• Employing a large-aperture triple-pass amplifier to achieve 1-kJ energy output.
• Incorporating a target chamber with diagnostic equipment for interaction studies.

Main Results:

• The TIR-1 system is capable of delivering approximately 1-kJ energy in a ~1-nanosecond pulse.
• An energy contrast ratio of ~10(6) was achieved for the laser pulses.
• The system facilitates the study of laser-target interactions at 10 micrometers.

Conclusions:

• The TIR-1 system represents a significant advancement in nanosecond CO(2) laser technology for fusion applications.
• The developed system is suitable for inertial confinement fusion research and laser-target interaction studies.