OMEGA EP Laser System
The OMEGA EP (Extended Performance) Laser System complements the OMEGA Laser System, significantly expanding the experimental capabilities in high-energy-density physics and inertial confinement fusion research.
OMEGA EP Features
- Four Independent Laser Beams: All four beams feature independent laser sources capable of delivering frequency-tripled ultraviolet light on target with a high degree of pointing, focusing, and timing accuracy
- Infrared Pulse Compression: Beams 1 and 2 can be operated in IR short-pulse mode with a pulse-compression path providing ultrashort, high-intensity infrared pulses on target.
- Modern Architecture: OMEGA EP employs optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification and a multipass laser amplifier architecture.
- Joint Facility Operations: OMEGA EP can operate independently with its dedicated target chamber or in conjunction with the 60-beam OMEGA facility and target chamber. This feature enables integrated fast-ignition experiments with the OMEGA Cryogenic Target Handling System.
Capabilities
- Short-Pulse Capability: Beams 1 and 2 support infrared variable pulse lengths between ~0.7 and 100 ps. The system can support energy up to 500 J at 0.7 ps or as much as 2000 J at 100 ps.
- Long-Pulse Capability: All beams can provide up to 5000 J of frequency-tripled ultraviolet (351-nm) light on target with shaped durations of 0.1 to 10 ns.
- Long-Pulse Shaping: The system supports custom ultraviolet (351-nm) pulse shaping with 100-ps resolution over the entire duration of 0.1 to 10 ns. An extensive pulse-shape library is maintained for users.
- High-Intensity Focusing, Pointing, and Timing: OMEGA EP can focus its beams onto targets less than a millimeter across, achieving extreme power densities. Laser pulses can be delivered with pointing accuracy <75 μm and timing accuracy up to <25 ps.
- Comprehensive Diagnostics Inventory: A broad range of fixed and insertable diagnostics are maintained by the facility and available to the user community.
OMEGA EP’s exceptional capabilities make it an invaluable tool for advancing research in inertial confinement fusion, plasma physics, and astrophysics. Its ability to generate extreme conditions in the laboratory continues to push the boundaries of scientific understanding and technological innovation.
Open for Collaboration
OMEGA EP is open to external users, fostering collaboration and supporting a wide range of experimental arenas. These include: high-energy-density (HED) physics, inertial confinement fusion (ICF), plasma physics, and astrophysics.