Choice of an optimum multichannel Nd:glass laser system for fusion experiments

A comparison has been made between proposed configurations for Nd-glass laser systems for fusion. Detailed theoretical modeling of pulse propagation has been carried out using a linearized model with the variables taken to be time, axial coordinate, and one transverse coordinate. A non-temporally varying, three-spatial dimension model was also used to correct the linearized two-spatial dimension calculations. A 10(5) J system using 200 slab amplifiers and 20 spatial filters and having a 10(-4) rad divergence appears feasible.