Diagnostics - Laboratory for Laser Energetics

LLE is a national leader in the design, development, and fabrication of advanced diagnostics for inertial confinement fusion and high-energy-density physics. With a high shot rate and flexible facilities, the Omega Laser Facility supports rapid diagnostic innovation.

Omega plays a vital role in advancing capabilities across the broader national laboratory system. Many diagnostics used today at major facilities such as NIF and Z were first conceived, tested, and calibrated at LLE before wider implementation.

Advanced Diagnostic Capabilities

At the core of this flexibility are the re-entrant diagnostic shuttles, known as TIMs (Ten-Inch Manipulators). These systems allow researchers to insert and position diagnostics with high precision inside the target chamber. After each experiment, the diagnostics can be retracted, serviced, and prepared for the next shot—streamlining data collection and maximizing uptime.

OMEGA and OMEGA EP support more than:

200+ qualified diagnostics on OMEGA
100+ qualified diagnostics on OMEGA EP

This includes an extensive suite of optical, x-ray, particle, and magnetic field measurement tools, many of which are cross-qualified for use in both chambers. This cross-compatibility not only expands options for users but also reduces costs for development and operations.

Technician moving diagnostic outside of the target chamber inside of the OMEGA EP Laser System.

Expert Support for Omega Users

Researchers don’t need to be experts in every diagnostic tool. Through the shot request process, users select the instruments they wish to use, and LLE’s team of scientists, specialists, and technicians handle integration, operations, and removal.

Omega User Resources

Precision Diagnostics for Every Project

Researchers can choose from a rich selection of state-of-the-art diagnostic tools to measure light, particles, and magnetic fields, all tailored for diverse scientific needs.

Advanced robotic systems carefully place and retrieve instruments, collecting critical data with accuracy.
Most diagnostics work seamlessly across multiple chambers, expanding possibilities and reducing costs.

Angularly Resolved Thomson Scattering

Thomson scattering is a powerful technique that precisely measures the plasma’s properties.

By extending the diagnostic to capture a range of scattering angles, LLE has invented Angularly Resolved Thomson Scattering, which enables the measurement of the electron distribution function within plasmas produced on OMEGA.

This technique gives detailed insight into how energy flows in a plasma, helping researchers better isolate the uncertainties in modeling plasma conditions from laser-plasma instability physics.

Subpicosecond X-Ray Streak Tube

EXAFS Flat Crystal Spectrometer

Streaked X-ray Spectrometer

Neutron Time-of-Flight Zirconium Diagnostic

Lambda Theta Reflectometer

SRTe Diagnostic

The Omega Laser Facility combines remarkable power with unique adaptability, making it one of the most versatile high-energy laser systems in the world. While far more energetic than typical university-scale lasers, Omega remains compact enough to support a wide range of innovative experiments.