Spot-shadowing optimization to mitigate damage growth in a high-energy-laser amplifier chain.
A spot-shadowing technique to mitigate damage growth in a high-energy laser is studied. Its goal is to minimize the energy loss and undesirable hot spots in intermediate planes of the laser. A nonlinear optimization algorithm solves for the complex fields required to mitigate damage growth in the National Ignition Facility amplifier chain. The method is generally applicable to any large fusion laser.
Bahk
Seung-Whan
SW
1Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA. sbah@lle.rochester.edu
Zuegel
Jonathan D
JD
Fienup
James R
JR
Widmayer
C Clay
CC
Heebner
John
J