Article on Trident Laser Facility for NA-11 Stockpile Stewardship Quarterly

Barnes, Cris W.¹ 

[1] Los Alamos National Laboratory

关键词: ENERGY DENSITY;    FLEXIBILITY;    GLASS;    HARMONICS;    ILLUMINANCE;    LANL;    LASERS;    PHYSICS;    PLATES;    STOCKPILES;    TARGET CHAMBERS;    WEAPONS;   

DOI  :  10.2172/1048839
RP-ID  :  LA-UR-12-24062
PID  :  OSTI ID: 1048839
Others  :  TRN: US1204377

美国|英语

来源: SciTech Connect

【 摘 要 】

The Trident Intermediate-Scale Laser Facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory is an extremely versatile Nd:glass laser system dedicated to high energy density laboratory physics and weapons physics research and fundamental laser-matter interactions. Trident is a three-beam, 200 J/beam at the second harmonic for glass (527 nm wavelength), facility with tremendous flexibility and high beam quality. Pulse durations varying over 6 orders of magnitude, from 0.5 picoseconds to 1.0 microsecs, can be directed to either of two different target chambers with changeable illumination geometries, including the ability to achieve near-diffraction limited focus. This provides a unique range of capability at one facility from sub-picosecond pulses (and high-intensity laser science) to nanosecond pulses (and LPI physics relevant to ICF) to microsecond pulses (and driving flyer plates for supported shock dynamic materials science.) When in short-pulse mode (less than picosecond pulse), a single beam can provide up to 200 TW of power with uniquely controllable and measured pre-pulse contrast of 10 orders of magnitude. A recent external capability review at Los Alamos concluded that 'Trident is generating excellent, cutting edge science and is a leading intermediate scale laser system worldwide.'