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The French Commissariat a l’Energie Atomique (CEA) began the construction of the Laser Megajoule (LMJ), a 240 beams laser facility, at the CEA Laboratory CESTA near Bordeaux. The LMJ will be a cornerstone of the CEA “Programme Simulation”, similar to LLNL “NIF” facility. The LMJ is designed to deliver 2 MJ of 0.35 μm light to targets for high energy density physics experiments and to ultimately obtain ignition and propagating burn with DT targets in the laboratory. The scientific conception and system design was completed in 1999 and was followed by the Demonstration of an Engineering Prototype which was achieved in early 2003 with operation of one beam of the Ligne d’Integration Laser (LIL) at CESTA, with 9.5 kJ of UV light (0.35 μm) in less than 9 ns from a single laser beam. The construction phase of the LMJ facility was initiated in March 2003 with the start of work on the building and the target chamber. This paper will present a summary of 2004 LIL results and a description of LMJ, which is expected to demonstrate first light performance through 240 beams by 2009.

The French Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique (CEA) began the construction of the Laser Megajoule (LMJ), a 240-beam laser facility, at the CEA Laboratory CESTA near Bordeaux. The LMJ will be a cornerstone of the CEA 'Programme Simulation', the French analog of the US Stockpile Stewardship Program.The LMJ is designed to deliver 2 MJ of 0.35 µm light to targets for high energy density physics experiments and to ultimately obtain ignition and propagating burn with DT targets in the laboratory.The Scientific conception and system design was completed in 1999 and was followed by the Demonstration of an Engineering Prototype which was achieved in early 2003 with the operation of one beam of the Ligne d'Integration Laser (LIL) at CESTA, with 9.5 kJ of UV light (0.35 µm) in less than 9 ns from a single laser beam.The realization phase of the LMJ facility was initiated in March of 2003 with the start of construction of the building and the target chamber.This paper will present results from the commissioning phase of the LIL program in 2003 and 2004. The activation and commissioning of all eight beamlines of LIL over the next 2 years will be part of determining the final specifications and integration and commissioning plans for the LMJ, which is expected to demonstrate first light performance through 240 beams by 2009.

The French Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique (CEA) began the construction of the Laser Megajoule (LMJ), a 240-beam laser facility, at the CEA laboratory CESTA near Bordeaux. The LMJ will be a cornerstone of the CEA "Programme Simulation", the French analog to the US Stockpile Stewardship Program. The LMJ is designed to deliver 2MJ of 0.35 μm light to targets for high energy density physics experiments and to ultimately obtain ignition and propagating burn with DT targets in the laboratory. The Scientific conception and system design was completed in 1999 and was followed by the Demonstration of an Engineering Prototype which was achieved in early 2003 with operation of one beam of the Ligne d'Integration Laser (LIL) at CESTA, with 9.5 kJ of UV light (0.35 μm) in less than 9 ns from a single laser beam. The Ralization phase of the LMJ facility was initiated in March of 2003 with the construction start of teh building and the target chamber. This paper will present results from the commissioning phase of the LIL program in 2003 and 2004. The activation and commissioning of the full 8 beamlines of LIL over the next 2 years will be part of determining the final specifications and integration and commissioning plans for the LMJ which is expected to demonstrate first light performance through 240 beams by 2010.