Design optimization of the 1 .8 MJ, 500 TW National Ignition Facility (NIF) laser has proceeded with the use of a suite of new computational models. Cost-effectiveness of alternative fundamental architectures was considered using CHAINOP. A very fast, lumped-element energetics code, CHA1NOP includes an extensive cost database, a runtime choice of optimization algorithm, and a set of heuristic rules for diffraction and nonlinear effects and for operational constraints. Its ability to flexibly consider many alternative configurations at a few seconds per chain made it the ideal "first-cut" tool for narrowing the investigation to the switched, multi-pass cavity architecture that was chosen.

Date Published: 8 December 1997
PDF: 14 pages
Proc. SPIE 3047, Solid State Lasers for Application to Inertial Confinement Fusion: Second Annual International Conference, (8 December 1997); doi: 10.1117/12.294341

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 3047:
Solid State Lasers for Application to Inertial Confinement Fusion: Second Annual International Conference
Michel L. Andre, Editor(s)