title: Argus laser system: performance summary.
abstract: The Argus Nd:glass laser system, presently operating as an experimental facility for laser fusion experiments, is described. The laser consists of a master oscillator and two identical amplifier chains, each of 20-cm output aperture. Argus is presently capable of delivering more than 4 TW of power in short (<100-psec) pulses, or more than 2 kJ of energy in 1-nsec pulses, to 100-microm targets. Short pulse performance enhancement obtained by increased aperture filling and implementation of image relaying with high power vacuum spatial filters is described. Experimentally recorded near-field and far-field data for several power levels are presented and discussed in terms of the limiting effects of nonlinear beam instabilities upon focal spot intensity.
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Speck
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Hunt