100-J UV laser system for dynamic compression of condensed matter

A 100-J, 351-nm laser has been developed for the Dynamic Compression Sector of the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory. This laser will drive shocks in condensed matter that will be probed by picosecond x-ray pulses from the synchrotron source. The laser includes a fiber-based front end providing pulse lengths up to 20 ns with pulse shapes tailored to optimize shock trajectories. A diode-pumped, Nd:glass regenerative amplifier is followed by a four-pass, flash-lamp-pumped rod amplifier and a six-pass, 150-mm, Nd:glass disk amplifier. A KDP Type-II/Type-II frequency tripler configuration converts the 1053-nm laser output to a wavelength of 351 nm and the ultraviolet beam is image relayed to a novel target chamber and optical train that will provide unique flexibility for DCS laser shock experiments. Smoothing by Spectral Dispersion and polarization smoothing have been optimized to produce uniform shocks in the materials to be tested.