High-average-power dye laser at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

The copper-laser-pumped dye laser system developed at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is now capable of sustained, efficient, and reliable operation at total powers exceeding 2500 W and single amplifier chain powers exceeding 1300 W. Wavelength center frequency stability is maintainable to < 50 MHz. Laser dyes developed at LLNL permit tunability from 550 to 650 nm. Wave-front quality is < lambda/4 peak to valley. The system is operated remotely with the aid of a comprehensive set of diagnostics. Besides supporting its primary atomic-vapor-laser-isotope-separation mission, the system is being used in alternate applications such as materials processing and the generation of artificial guide stars.