High‐power Nd:glass laser transmission through optical fibers and its use in acceleration of thin foil targets

Measurements on commercially available fused silica fibers and fiber tapers have shown that Nd:glass laser pulses of irradiance >3.5 GW cm−2 can be transmitted without bulk or surface damage. Optical energy at the fiber output can be used for efficient acceleration of thin metal foils. For 0.025‐mm‐thick aluminum coupled to a 0.2‐mm‐diam fiber, target foil velocities up to 2.3 km s−1 have been achieved with very modest laser energies (<25 mJ).