2X1 prototype plasma-electrode Pockels cell (PEPC) for the National Ignition Facility

Mark A. Rhodes; Scott N. Fochs; Terry W. Alger

doi:10.1117/12.294304

8 December 1997 2X1 prototype plasma-electrode Pockels cell (PEPC) for the National Ignition Facility

Mark A. Rhodes, Scott N. Fochs, Terry W. Alger

Proceedings Volume 3047, Solid State Lasers for Application to Inertial Confinement Fusion: Second Annual International Conference; (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.294304
Event: Second International Conference on Solid State Lasers for Application to ICF, 1996, Paris, France

Abstract

A large aperture optical switch based on plasma electrode Pockels cell (PEPC) technology is an integral part of the National Ignition Facility (NIF) laser design. This optical switch will trap the input optical pulse in the NIF amplifier cavity for four gain passes and then switch the high-energy output optical pulse out of the cavity. The switch will consist of arrays of plasma electrode Pockels cells working in conjunction with thin-film, Brewster's angle polarizes. The 192 beams in the NIF will be arranged in 4 X 2 bundles. To meet the required beam-to-beam spacing within each bundle, we have proposed a NIF PEPC design based on a 4 X 1 mechanical module (column) which is in turn comprised of two electrically independent 2 X 1 PEPC units. In this paper, we report on the design a single 2 X 1 prototype module and experimental tests of important design issues using our single, 32 cm aperture PEPC prototype. The purpose of the 2 X 1 prototype is to prove the viability of a 2 X 1 PEPC and to act as engineering test bed for the NIF PEPC design.

Citation Download Citation

Mark A. Rhodes, Scott N. Fochs, and Terry W. Alger "2X1 prototype plasma-electrode Pockels cell (PEPC) for the National Ignition Facility", Proc. SPIE 3047, Solid State Lasers for Application to Inertial Confinement Fusion: Second Annual International Conference, (8 December 1997); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.294304

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