Direct focal spot adaptive optics for achieving high power diffraction limited performance in the interaction chamber

In order to reach the highest intensity of the focal spot, short focal length focusing optics are used in most of today´s laser facilities. These optics usually degrade significantly the wavefront quality of the laser and so the focal spot quality. We present focal spots corrected from the focusing optics aberration thanks to direct focal spot adaptive optics. Diffraction limited performance of the laser system is achieved for the final focal spot at high power in the interaction chamber.