The Prague Asterix Laser System

Abstract

The Prague Asterix Laser System (PALS) is a new international laboratory where research teams are invited to compete for the beam time. The PALS Center runs an iodine photodissociation high-power laser system delivering up to 1.2 kJ of energy in ∼400 ps pulses at the wavelength of 1.315 μm. Optional doubling and tripling of the frequency is assured by large-diameter nonlinear crystals. The ASTERIX IV laser [H. Baumhacker et al., Appl. Phys. B 61, 325 (1995)], transferred from Garching into a new laser hall in Prague, was updated and put into operation on 8 June 2000. These upgrades include new beam delivery options and a twin interaction chamber, which is designed flexibly for a broad spectrum of applications. Results of the first series of experiments are presented and some planned upgrades are briefly described. These include implementation of adaptive optics, replacement of the iodine master oscillator by a more flexible solid state oscillator based on fiber optics, and a femtosecond extension of the laser output to reach the petawatt pulse power region.

Shock dynamics induced by double-spot laser irradiation of layered targets

“…Experiments were realized using the PALS (Prague Asterix Laser System) iodine laser [17]. The laser pulse at 0.44 m (the third harmonic of the emission wavelength) was Gaussian in time with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 400 ps and a single-shot energy up to 400 J.…”

Spectroscopic characterization of plasma densities of laser-irradiated Al foils

“…The experiment was carried out on the iodine laser system at the PALS Research Center in Prague [12]. The scheme of the experimental geometry is shown in Fig.…”

“…Both these methods require some knowledge of the electron temperature in the emitting plasma. The needed values were derived from time-integrated spectra taken at similar conditions by a spatially resolving survey spectrometer equipped with a at ADP (101) crystal [12] and from plasma hydrodynamic simulations described in the next section. As mentioned already, the Stark-broadened shapes and positions of spectral lines depend strongly on density and relatively weakly on temperature.…”

Astrophysical jets: Observations, numerical simulations, and laboratory experiments

“…35 A 0.438 m laser beam having 290 mm diameter was focused by a 600 mm focal length aspherical lens onto a planar solid copper target which provided the plasma jet production. The laser energy was ϳ100 J, the focal spot radius on the target was 300 m, and the pulse duration was ϳ250 ps ͑full width at half maximum͒.…”