The Nike electron beam-pumped KrF laser amplifiers

Nike is a recently completed multi-kilojoule krypton fluoride (KrF) laser that has been built to study the physics of direct drive inertial confinement fusion. The two final amplifiers of the Nike laser are both electron beam pumped systems. The smaller of the two has a 20 cm/spl times/20 cm aperture and produces an output laser beam energy in excess of 100 Joules. This 20 cm amplifier uses a single 12 kJ Marx generator to produce two 300 kV, 75 kA, 140 nsec flat top electron beams that are injected into opposite sides of the laser cell. The larger amplifier in Nike has a 60 cm/spl times/60 cm aperture, and amplifies the laser beam up to 5 kJ. This 60 cm amplifier has two independent electron beam systems, with each side powered by a 170 kJ Marx generator that produces a 670 kV, 540 kA, 240 nsec flat top electron beam. Both amplifiers are complete, fully integrated into the laser, and meet the Nike system requirements. Laser-target experiments have begun.