Commissioning of a multiple-frequency modulation smoothing by spectral dispersion demonstration system on OMEGA EP

B. E. Kruschwitz; J. H. Kelly; C. Dorrer; A. V. Okishev; L. J. Waxer; G. Balonek; I. A. Begishev; W. Bittle; A. Consentino; R. Cuffney; E. Hill; J. A. Marozas; M. Moore; R. G. Roides; J. D. Zuegel

doi:10.1117/12.2002530

18 February 2013 Commissioning of a multiple-frequency modulation smoothing by spectral dispersion demonstration system on OMEGA EP

B. E. Kruschwitz, J. H. Kelly, C. Dorrer, A. V. Okishev, L. J. Waxer, G. Balonek, I. A. Begishev, W. Bittle, A. Consentino, R. Cuffney, E. Hill, J. A. Marozas, M. Moore, R. G. Roides, J. D. Zuegel

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Proceedings Volume 8602, High Power Lasers for Fusion Research II; 86020E (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2002530
Event: SPIE LASE, 2013, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

A one-dimensional smoothing by spectral dispersion (SSD) demonstration system for smoothing focal-spot nonuniformities using multiple modulation frequencies (multi-FM SSD) was commissioned on one long-pulse beamline of OMEGA EP—the first use of such a system in a high-energy laser. System models of frequency modulation-to-amplitude modulation (FM-to-AM) conversion in the OMEGA EP beamline and final optics were used to develop an AM budget. The AM budget in turn provided a UV power limit of 0.85 TW, based on accumulation of B-integral in the final optics. The front end of the demonstration system utilized a National Ignition Facility preamplifier module (PAM) with a custom SSD grating inserted into the PAM’s multipass amplifier section. The dispersion of the SSD grating was selected to cleanly propagate the dispersed SSD bandwidth through various pinholes in the system while maintaining sufficient focal-spot smoothing performance. A commissioning plan was executed that systematically introduced the new features of the demonstration system into OMEGA EP. Ultimately, the OMEGA EP beamline was ramped to the UV power limit with various pulse shapes. The front-end system was designed to provide flexibility in pulse shaping. Various combinations of pickets and nanosecond-scale drive pulses were demonstrated, with multi-FM SSD selectively applied to portions of the pulse. Analysis of the dispersion measured by the far-field diagnostics at the outputs of the infrared beamline and the frequency-conversion crystals indicated that the SSD modulation spectrum was maintained through both the beamline and the frequency-conversion process. At the completion of the plan, a series of equivalent-target-plane measurements with distributed phase plates installed were conducted that confirmed the expected timeintegrated smoothing of the focal spot.

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B. E. Kruschwitz, J. H. Kelly, C. Dorrer, A. V. Okishev, L. J. Waxer, G. Balonek, I. A. Begishev, W. Bittle, A. Consentino, R. Cuffney, E. Hill, J. A. Marozas, M. Moore, R. G. Roides, and J. D. Zuegel "Commissioning of a multiple-frequency modulation smoothing by spectral dispersion demonstration system on OMEGA EP", Proc. SPIE 8602, High Power Lasers for Fusion Research II, 86020E (18 February 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2002530

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