DiPOLE100X, or D100-X, is another record-breaking, kilowatt-level, diode-pumped, solid-state laser, shown in Figure 1. To make the system more compact, it has been folded at the interface between the two amplifying stages.
Other modifications include:
- A double modulator incorporated into the front end because pulse contrast is of high importance;
- The ability to shape the pulse in a closed loop system.
Figure 1 - 3D view of the D100-X system.
Parameters list:
Pulse energy up to 150 J
Wavelength 1030 nm
Pulse duration 2-10 ns
Repetition rate up to 10 Hz
Output beam size 75x75 mm
Optical to optical efficiency 34.0%
Performance:
While achieving the same kilowatt-level output powers as its predecessor, DiPOLE100, and obtaining another world-leading result, D100X also demonstrated two key results:
1. Generation of 150 J, 15 ns pulses at a 1 Hz repetition rate (Figure 1) [1].
This performance not only exceeds the target energy specification but provides further evidence of the energy scaling potential of the DiPOLE architecture.
2. Producing a stable output of 75 J at a 10 Hz repetition rate for a six hour run (Figure 2) [1].
This output stability at high energies and repetition rates is a particularly important result as it will allow D100X to be used as an experimental tool that is required to perform reliably to support user experiments.
