Increasing the effective bandwidth of a laser-fusion driver
Abstract
The absorption of narrow band 1.06 micron radiation by laser fusion targets was less than predicted by classical physics. Thus, early extrapolations of neutron yields and fuel densities that are achieved as more powerful lasers come on line were not fully realized. However, experiments are encouraging in that they show agreement with theoretical predictions that laser/target interactions should improve at shorter laser wavelengths. More recently theoretical treatments have further suggested that energy absorption may improve if the laser bandwidth can be increased to several percent of the laser frequency. Preliminary experiments using a plasma filter to broaden the bandwidth tend to support these predictions, but the results are not yet conclusive.
- Publication:
-
NASA STI/Recon Technical Report N
- Pub Date:
- September 1981
- Bibcode:
- 1981STIN...8324847B
- Keywords:
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- Bandwidth;
- Laser Fusion;
- Laser Targets;
- Radiation Absorption;
- Brillouin Effect;
- Glass Lasers;
- Neodymium Lasers;
- Raman Spectra;
- Lasers and Masers