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Trident: a versatile high-power Nd:glass laser facility for inertial confinement fusion experiments
Applied Optics
|November 6, 2010
Summary
The Trident laser facility supports Inertial Confinement Fusion research with two main beam lines and a third diagnostic beam. It offers flexible energy, pulse-shaping, and diagnostics for laser-target interaction experiments.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Fusion Science
- High-Power Laser Technology
Background:
- The Trident Nd:glass laser system is a key experimental facility.
- It supports the national Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) program at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the operational capabilities and configuration of the Trident laser system.
- To highlight its role in supporting ICF research and laser-target interaction experiments.
Main Methods:
- Utilizes two identical main beam lines with 14-cm-disk final amplifiers.
- Employs frequency doubling for all beams and beam expansion to 19.2 cm.
- Features a third beam with 10-cm disk amplifiers for simultaneous target shooting or diagnostics.
Main Results:
- The system is capable of delivering high-energy laser pulses for ICF experiments.
- Offers a flexible combination of energy, pulse-shaping, and diagnostic tools.
- Enables detailed study of laser-target interactions.
Conclusions:
- The Trident laser system provides a versatile platform for advancing Inertial Confinement Fusion research.
- Its advanced configuration supports a wide range of laser-target interaction experiments.
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