A novel backscatter focus diagnostic for the TRIDENT 200 TW laser

D C Gautier; K A Flippo; S A Letzring; J Workman T Shimada; R P Johnson; T R Hurry; S A Gaillard; B M Hegelich

doi:10.1063/1.2979881

A novel backscatter focus diagnostic for the TRIDENT 200 TW laser

Rev Sci Instrum. 2008 Oct;79(10):10F547. doi: 10.1063/1.2979881.

Authors

D C Gautier¹, K A Flippo, S A Letzring, J Workman T Shimada, R P Johnson, T R Hurry, S A Gaillard, B M Hegelich

Affiliation

¹ Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA.

PMID: 19044689
DOI: 10.1063/1.2979881

Abstract

Here we present the first direct focal spot images and analysis of an ultrahigh intensity short-pulse laser focus (>5x10(19) W/cm(2)) on target. Such a focal spot characterization is typically done previous to the shot with a low-power alignment beam using equivalent plane imaging techniques. The resulting intensity of the shot is then inferred from these results. We report on the development of a backscatter focus diagnostic, which enables imaging of the on-target full-power focal spot.