Acquisition of an optical signal intensity as a function of time can be performed with precise synchronization (jitter inferior to one picosecond) using an external picosecond pulsed laser as a timing clock driving a photoconductor to generate a streak camera sweep signal. This allows for averaging of successive optical signals, thus increasing the dynamic range of the measurement. With this method the input signal of the ICF laser amplification chain could potentially be directly analyzed in its entirety without need for dynamic range compression devices. A dynamic range of 10⁵ is shown to be feasible goal from test experiments using a 1 kHz Ti:Sapphire laser. The use of laser timing for precise diagnostics of other functions of the ICF operation is also of potential interest.

Date Published: 8 December 1997
PDF: 4 pages
Proc. SPIE 3047, Solid State Lasers for Application to Inertial Confinement Fusion: Second Annual International Conference, (8 December 1997); doi: 10.1117/12.294353

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