High power krypton fluoride lasers are being developed as an alternative more efficient and more cost effective technology for the production of ultra high power pulses. Novel laser architectures are being evolved for this purpose including the use of angular multiplexing and Raman beam combining. Prototype systems are being developed in several laboratories worldwide and in particular at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory where the Sprite laser installation has been used to demonstrate operation in an angular multiplexed and Raman beam combined mode for the generation of exceptionally low beam divergence and high power in short pulses. Details are reported of the work with the Sprite system and of design extrapolations which are under consideration as the basis of future larger laser facilities, including the possible European Laser Facility with a performance target in the region of 1 PW peak power and 100 kJ maximum energy.

Date Published: 1 February 1991
PDF: 9 pages
Proc. SPIE 1397, 8th Intl Symp on Gas Flow and Chemical Lasers, (1 February 1991); doi: 10.1117/12.25996

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 1397:
8th Intl Symp on Gas Flow and Chemical Lasers
Concepcion Maroto Domingo; Jose M. Orza, Editor(s)