Timeline - 1981 - Laboratory for Laser Energetics

Frequency Tripling in Use
In 1981, initial papers were published on LLE’s use of frequency tripling. LLE’s third-harmonic-generation schemes for high-power glass lasers allowed for highly efficient absorption of the incident laser. By tripling the frequency of the beams, more power was delivered to the target.

R. S. Craxton, “High Efficiency Frequency Tripling Schemes for High Power
Nd:Glass Lasers,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. QE-17 (9), 1771–1782 (1981).

Ablation-Driven Rayleigh–Taylor Instability
The paper “Nonlinear Evolution of Ablation-Driven Rayleigh–Taylor Instability” by R. L. McCrory et al. appeared in Physical Review Letters. This work examined nonlinear aspects of Rayleigh–Taylor instability and showed that it was plausible to design successful moderate-aspect-ratio capsules.

R. L. McCrory, L. Montierth, R. L. Morse, and C. P. Verdon, “Nonlinear Evolution of
Ablation-Driven Rayleigh–Taylor Instability,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 46 (5), 336–339 (1981).

Plot showing laser intensity versus wavelength, with multiple colored curves labeled 0.25 µm, 0.33 µm, 0.50 µm, 1 µm, and 10 µm, highlighting a relevant operating regime.

UV laser–matter interaction experiments demonstrate benefits of short-wavelength irradiation

Scientific graph comparing classical and simulated growth rates versus wave number, showing several data points and multiple model curves.

Comparison of the 2D simulations of Rayleigh–Taylor linear instability growth rates with the stationary-flow model

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