Characterisation of short pulse laser target debris at the HELEN laser facility

J. D. Griffiths; J. E. Andrew

doi:10.1117/12.638035

7 February 2006 Characterisation of short pulse laser target debris at the HELEN laser facility

J. D. Griffiths, J. E. Andrew

Proceedings Volume 5991, Laser-Induced Damage in Optical Materials: 2005; 59910L (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.638035
Event: Boulder Damage Symposium XXXVII: Annual Symposium on Optical Materials for High Power Lasers, 2005, Boulder, CO, United States

Abstract

The implementation of CPA on one of the HELEN laser beams has prompted the need for investigations into the survivability of reflective and refractive focussing optics during laser-target interaction experiments. These experiments generate debris that has the potential to contaminate the optics cumulatively over time, and in some cases produce high-energy shrapnel, which may damage the focussing optics on an individual shot. Inserting a thin (2mm) coated glass substrate into the beam path allows for its use as a mitigation shield by obstructing the line of sight for debris and shrapnel to travel directly from the target to the focussing optic. A series of experiments have been conducted using such debris shields on the CPA beam line at the HELEN laser facility AWE, Aldermaston. The influence of the debris shield on focal spot behaviour will be described. Directionality and contamination density of target debris has been characterised by the use of thin glass witness plates and post-shot inspection by optical microscopy.

Citation Download Citation

J. D. Griffiths and J. E. Andrew "Characterisation of short pulse laser target debris at the HELEN laser facility", Proc. SPIE 5991, Laser-Induced Damage in Optical Materials: 2005, 59910L (7 February 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.638035

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