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 ultra-short high intensity infrared pulses on target.
- Modern Architecture: OMEGA EP employs optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification and a multi-pass 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 length between ~0.7 and 100 picoseconds. The system can support energy up to 500 Joules at 0.7 picoseconds or as much as 2000 Joules at 100 picoseconds.
- Long Pulse Capability: All beams can provide up to 5000 Joules of frequency-tripled ultraviolet (351 nm) light on target with shaped durations of 0.1 to 10 nanoseconds.
- Long Pulse Shaping: The system supports custom ultraviolet (351 nm) pulse shaping with 100 picosecond resolution over the entire duration of 0.1 to 10 nanoseconds. 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 um and timing accuracy up to <25 picoseconds.
- 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 physics (HED), inertial confinement fusion (ICF), plasma physics and astrophysics.