CO2 Laser Systems for Fusion Experiments

For some time it has been recognized that significant thermonuclear yields produced by laser-induced fusion will require many kilojoules of laser light energy properly coupled into cleverly designed targets, regardless of the wavelength of the light. The development of large power amplifiers needed to generate these intense optical beams has absorbed much effort in the fusion programs; yet, there is more to developing a satisfactory laser fusion system than merely obtaining a power amplifier. Some of the requirements demanded of the fusion system are the following: proper temporal pulse shape satisfactory freedom from wave front error efficient energy extraction adequate energy on target freedom from parasitic or system oscillation satisfactory absence of prepulse energy protection against retropulse-produced damage proper pointing and focusing of on-target beams absence of optically-induced damage to components