title: Random phase plates for beam smoothing on the Nova laser.
abstract: We discuss the design and fabrication of 80-cm-diameter random phase plates for target-plane beam smoothing on the Nova laser. Random phase plates have been used in a variety of inertial confinement fusion target experiments, such as studying direct-drive hydrodynamic stability and producing spatially smooth x-ray backlighting sources. These phase plates were produced by using a novel sol-gel dip-coating technique developed by us. The sol-gel phase plates have a high optical damage threshold at the second- and third-harmonic wavelengths of the Nd:glass laser and have excellent optical performance.
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Dixit
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Henesian
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Wegner
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Powell