Performance of the NRL Nike-KrF laser for uniform target illumination experiments

Author

Lehecka, T. ; Deniz, A.V. ; Hardgrove, J.J. ; Bodner, S.E. ; Gerber, K.A. ; Lehmberg, R.H. ; McLean, E.A. ; Obenschain, S.P. ; Pawley, c.J. ; Pronko, M.S. ; Sethian, John D. ; Stamper, J.A. ; Sullivan, C.A.

Author_Institution

Appl. Phys. Oper., Sci. Applications Int. Corp., McLean, VA, USA

fYear

1996

fDate

2-7 June 1996

Firstpage

355

Abstract

Summary form only given. Nike is a multikilojoule KrF laser system located at the Naval Research Laboratory. Nike produces high-intensity uniform illumination on flat targets for experiments relating to direct-drive inertial confinement fusion (ICF). In particular we intend to study the Rayleigh-Taylor hydrodynamic instability associated with target acceleration and to develop methods to reduce the deleterious effects this instability. We are currently performing experiments toward these goals as well as characterizing the performance of the laser system. Results of these measurements are presented.

Keywords

Rayleigh-Taylor instability; excimer lasers; fusion reactor ignition; krypton compounds; plasma production by laser; KrF; NRL Nike KrF laser; Rayleigh-Taylor hydrodynamic instability; direct-drive inertial confinement fusion; uniform target illumination; Acceleration; Energy measurement; Focusing; Laser theory; Lighting; Optical amplifiers; Optical beams; Optical pulse generation; Optical scattering; Pulse amplifiers;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Lasers and Electro-Optics, 1996. CLEO '96., Summaries of papers presented at the Conference on

Conference_Location

Anaheim, CA, USA

Print_ISBN

1-55752-443-2

Type

conf

Filename

864782