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Nuclear Reactor with a Laser Fusion Neutron Source

The gain dynamics in the active medium of an overtone CO laser operating on the transitions between high vibrational levels is studied experimentally and theoretically. The gain dynamics is measured on the vibration — rotation transitions of the CO molecule [the P(12) spectral line in the vibrational bands from 20 → 18 to 36 → 34] in CO — He and CO — N2 laser mixtures. The maximum small-signal gain was 0.43 m-1. The theoretical model of the CO laser was significantly improved. It was shown that multiquantum and asymmetric VV-exchange processes should be included in the analysis of the population dynamics of high vibrational levels of the CO molecule.

Characteristics of a pulsed, multifrequency electroionisation CO laser operating on the first vibrational overtone of the CO molecule are studied experimentally and theoretically. It is shown experimentally that a pulsed, multifrequency overtone CO laser is an efficient source of coherent radiation in the 2.5–4.1-μm region whose specific output reaches 50 J l-1 amagat-1 and the electro-optical efficiency amounts to 11 %. A theoretical analysis based on experimental data shows the feasibility of obtaining overtone emission with efficiency as high as ~20 %. The alternation of the intensity of vibrational bands in the overtone CO laser is discussed. This effect is caused by the cascade mechanism of formation of the emission spectrum. The comparison of experimental data with calculations showed that they agree well with respect to spectral and energy characteristics of the overtone CO laser. Moreover, it revealed the necessity of refinement of the kinetic model of the active medium of the CO laser for obtaining an adequate description of time parameters of a laser pulse.

Output characteristics of a single-pulse e-beam controlled discharge laser operating on the first-overtone (FO) transitions (/spl Delta//spl nu/=2) of CO molecules have been studied both experimentally and theoretically. Various sets of dielectric mirrors with high reflectivity in the range of the overtone spectrum have been used for the laser resonator. Multiwavelength lasing has been obtained in the wide spectral range of 2.5-4.1 /spl mu/m on vibrational transitions from 6/spl rarr/4 up to 37/spl rarr/35. A maximum output efficiency of 11%, the highest ever published for a FO CO laser, has been experimentally obtained for the broad-band multiline FO CO laser. Maximum specific output energy is 50 J/1 Amagat. FO CO lasing was observed within a predischarge gas temperature range of 100-220 K. Spectral characteristics of the overtone laser operating on a selected set of vibrational bands have been analyzed theoretically. Theoretical calculations based on the experimental data predict that multiline FO CO laser efficiency can be increased up to 20%. Experiments with a single-pulse FO CO laser using a diffraction grating as a frequency-selective element demonstrated the feasibility of developing a frequency-tunable single-line FO CO laser. Tunable FO CO lasing on wavelengths from 2.7 up to 4.2 /spl mu/m corresponding to vibrational transitions from 13/spl rarr/11 up to 38/spl rarr/ 36 was obtained. The maximum specific output energy came up to 2.8 J/1 Amagat, with single-line output efficiency being up to 0.6%.

Tunable single-line first-overtone (FO) CO lasing on wavelengths from 2.7 up to 4.2 μm corresponding to overtone vibrational transitions from 13→11 up to 38→36 on 413 ro-vibrational lines was experimentally obtained. A parametric study of energetic and spectral characteristics of the single-line FO CO laser was carried out. Energy distribution over ro-vibrational lines was measured. The maximum specific output energy (SOE) came up to ∼3 J/l Amagat, with single-line output efficiency being up to 0.6%. For the first time, a multi-quantum theoretical model was used to describe the tunable single-line FO CO laser. This multi-quantum approach demonstrated better agreement between theoretical calculations and observed experimental data for laser output as a function of vibrational quantum numbers.

Output efficiency as high as 11% and specific output energy up to ∼50 J/l Amagat were experimentally obtained for a cryogenically cooled multiline pulsed first-overtone (FO) CO laser for the first time. The longest generated wavelength was 4.1 μm, corresponding to the 37→35 vibrational transition. FO CO lasing was observed within an initial gas temperature interval of 100–220 K. Theoretical calculations based on the experimental data predict that the FO CO laser efficiency can be increased up to 20%. High efficiency and high specific output energy obtained in the experiment places the FO CO laser amongst other high-power lasers.

Targets with low degrees of compression, such as those with internal energy deposition, two-stage conical targets for lasers emitting pulses of duration of the order of 100 ns, and multilayer shell targets for short-pulse long-wavelength CO2 and CO lasers may prove acceptable for hybrid thermonuclear reactors with high values (of the order of 103) of the gain in the blanket. Estimates and one-dimensional calculations of the compression of such targets are reported for the laser radiation energy range 0.2–2 MJ.

A high-power KrF laser system was developed on the basis of a large-aperture excimer laser with electronbeam pumping and injection control by an electric-discharge master oscillator. The spectral brightness of the radiation of line width ~0.1 cm-1, tunable near λ = 248 nm, was ~5 × 1014 W cm-2 sr-1 per cm-1 at a peak power of ~1 GW.

Report presented at the International Seminar on Present Status and Future Plan of Inertial Confinement Fusion, Tokyo, Japan, 26 November 1992.

A superlattice with strained ZnCdSe/ZnSe layers was grown by the method of molecular beam epitaxy. This superlattice was used as the active layer in the screen of a laser cathode-ray tube. The room-temperature output power was 1.6 W in the form of one longitudinal mode at the 484 nm wavelength. The earlier results obtained at electron energies below 50 keV were improved.

Output characteristics of a pulsed e-beam controlled discharge laser operating at the first-overtone (FO) transitions ((Delta) V equals 2) of CO molecule have been studied both experimentally and theoretically. Various sets of dielectric mirrors with high reflectivity in the range of the overtone spectrum have been used for the laser resonator. Multiwavelength lasing has been obtained in the wide spectral range of 2.5 - 4.1 micrometers on vibrational transitions from 6 yields 4 up to 37 yields 35. Maximum output efficiency 11%, the highest of eve laser, has been experimentally obtained for the broad band multiline FO CO laser. Maximum specific output energy (SOE) is 50 J/I Amagat. FO CO lasing was observed within an initial gas temperature interval of 100 - 220 K. Spectral characteristics of the overtone laser operating on a selected set of vibrational bands have been analyzed theoretically. Theoretical calculations based on the experimental data predict that multiline FO CO laser efficiency can be increased up to 20%. The experiments with pulsed FO CO laser using diffraction grating as a frequency selective element demonstrated a feasibility of a development of frequency tunable single line pulsed FO CO laser. Tunable FO CO lasing on wavelengths from 2.7 up to 4.2 micrometers corresponding to vibrational transitions from 13 yields 11 up to 38 yields 36 was obtained. The maximum SOE came up to 2.8 J/I Amagat, single line output efficiency being up to 0.6%.

Tunable single-line first-overtone (FO) CO lasing on wavelengths from 2.7 up to 4.2 micrometer corresponding to overtone vibrational transitions from 13 yields 11 up to 38 yields 36 on 413 ro-vibrational lines was experimentally obtained. A parametric study of energetic and spectral characteristics of the single-line FO CO laser was carried out. Energy distribution over ro-vibrational lines was measured. The maximum specific output energy (SOE) came up to approximately 3 J/l Amagat, with single-line output efficiency being up to 0.6%. For the first time, a multi-quantum theoretical model was used to describe the tunable single-line FO CO laser. This multi-quantum approach demonstrated better agreement between theoretical calculations and observed experimental data for laser output as a function of vibrational quantum numbers.

Output characteristics of a pulsed e-beam controlled discharge laser operating on the first-overtone (FO) transitions (?V=2) of CO molecule have been studied both experimentally and theoretically. Various sets of dielectric mirrors with high reflectivity in the range of the overtone spectrum have been used for the laser resonator. Multiwavelength lasing has been obtained in the wide spectral range of 2.5 - 4.1 µm on vibrational transitions from 6?4 up to 37?35. Maximum output efficiency as high as 11% has been experimentally obtained for the broad band FO CO laser. Output efficiency of the laser operating on a few vibrational bands within the relatively narrow spectral range 2.5-2.7 µm comes up to 5% at entirely suppressed fundamental band (?V=1) lasing. FO CO lasing was observed within an initial gas temperature interval of 100-220 K. Spectral characteristics of the overtone laser operating on a selected set of vibrational bands have been analyzed theoretically. Theoretical calculations based on the experimental data predict that multiline FO CO laser efficiency can be increased up to 20%.

The theoretical, technical and technological aspects of the high energy and low angular divergence laser beam obtaining by means of Raman's scattering application in the secondary cascade are discussed. Several (2 - 6) unphased, independent, simultaneously working primary cascades were combined into one laser beam having 10 cm diameter and 10 15 - 10 16 W/cm 2 .sterad brightness at 40% summing efficiency.

The results of research on decrease in angular divergence of radiation of explosively pumped photodissociation lasers (EPPL) with the use of the method of phase conjugation for compensation of active medium optical nonuniformities and distortions of laser beam during its propagation through the atmosphere to an object of influence are presented.

The operation of laser system based on explosively pumped photodissociation lasers and designed to control the distribution of space debris not observed nowadays is described and the possibility of its breaking using laser radiation effect and its subsequent evaporation in the Earth's atmosphere is discussed.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

The principle of operation of explosively pumped lasers and variants of its construction are described, values of parameters achieved in practice are presented.

Comparative analysis of gas lasers pumped by γ‐radiation for ignition experiment is carried out. The possibilities of frequency‐time pulse shaping are discussed for these kinds of laser drivers. New type of ICF target (LIGHT‐target), which is able to provide an uniform deposition of laser driver energy is proposed as a target for ignition experiment.

Three primary colors (red -- 620 nm, green -- 540 nm, blue -- 455 nm) are obtained by means of A2B6 e-beam pumped semiconductor lasers. Semiconductor plates 5 cm in diameter are used. Light output in white is 3000 lm (9 W). High resolution (up to the 2000 pix/line) gives us the possibility of using such an L-CRT projector in HDTV. The main characteristics of basic elements are given. It is possible to reach the L-CRT light output of 104 lm.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

A high-power KrF laser system based on a wide-aperture electron-beam pumped excimer laser `GARPUN' with injection-locking from a discharge pumped narrow-band oscillator has been developed. The laser radiation spectral brightness of approximately 5 X 1014 W/cm2 srad cm-1 with narrow linewidth approximately 0.1 cm-1 tunable near (lambda) equals 248 nm, and the output peak power of approximately 1 GW have been obtained.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

The e-beam-pumped KrF laser "GAR-PUN" produces 100 ns pulses with an output energy of ~100 J and peak power ~1 GW in free-running and injection-controlled narrow-band operation.1 In this paper we describe a design of a multistage KrF laser system with an expected output power of 5-10 GW in nanosecond range.

It is a special favour to be here at a celebration for Edward Teller who was the very first in history to demonstrate a man-made exothermic nuclear fusion reaction. This represented the process of inertial confinement fusion (ICF) on a large scale. Now it is a most important aim for mankind to develop this process into a smaller controllable scale for production of energy.

An obituary is given of A.F.Suchkov, Head of the Laboratory of Gas Lasers, Chief Scientist of the Division of Quantum Radiophysics at the P N Lebedev Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which has tragically died.