Abstract

Aurora is a laser system that serves as an operating technology demonstration prototype for large- scale high-energy KrF laser systems of interest for inertial fusion applications. This system will incorporate the following elements to achieve an end-to- end 248-nm laser fusion concept demonstration: an injection-locked oscillator-amplifier front end; an optical angular multiplexer to produce 96 encoded optical channels each of 5-nsec duration; a chain of four electron-beam-driven KrF laser amplifiers; automated alignment systems for beam alignment; a decoder to provide for pulse compression of some fraction of the total beam train to be delivered to target; and a target chamber to house and diagnose fusion targets. Figure 1 shows a conceptual layout for Aurora.

© 1985 Optical Society of America