Accession Number:

ADA581272

Title:

High-Energy Laser for Detection, Inspection, and Non-destructive Testing. Phase 2

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. 1 May 2008-21 Mar 2012

Corporate Author:

NEBRASKA UNIV LINCOLN DEPT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY

Personal Author(s):

• Umstadter, Donald
• Enders, Susan

Report Date:

2012-03-21

Pagination or Media Count:

2.0

Abstract:

We have completed the installation and first phase of the commissioning of the PW upgrade to the Diocles laser system. We have pumped the amplifier crystal with 8 pump beams, seeded it with the output of the 100-TW system, and amplified 4 J of input energy to 20 J. This corresponds to 400-500-TW peak power. The compressor system is also functional, and has been used to compress the amplified pulse to 36 fs. The compressed pulse has been corrected for chirp, and we have shown that the compressor does not introduce any measurable aberration. The amplified beam is now in the target chamber where it will be focused with a parabolic reflector onto a supersonic jet to produce multi-GeV energy electron beams. In the next phase, after safeguards against optical damage are implemented, the pump energy will be increased further, closer to their operational limit. The design for the upgrade to higher repetition rate has also been completed, and orders placed for almost all of the requisite components.

Descriptors:

• *HIGH ENERGY LASERS
• DETECTION
• INSPECTION
• NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING

Subject Categories:

• Lasers and Masers

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE