Abstract

Ultrauniform illumination of laser fusion targets using the induced spatial incoherence (ISI) technique¹ requires a laser system that can produce and amplify light without distorting either the focal profile or the temporal pulse shape. A prototype ISI oscillator based on KrF discharge technology has been developed at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) and is described elsewhere.² It produces a 60× diffraction-limited beam with a 30-ns long 1-mJ pulse at a wavelength of 248 nm. We report here recent developments regarding low distortion amplification of ISI light using discharge-pumped amplifiers. A 4-ns slice of the longer oscillator pulse was amplified to 200 mJ using a Pockels cell and two laser amplifiers arranged in series. This work is part of the development of the multikilojoule Nike Laser facility.³

© 1992 Optical Society of America