Abstract
Laser power has increased by 11 orders of magnitude since Maiman's first demonstration of 103 W in 1960. Present high-power solid-state laser systems have been irradiating targets with 1–10 terawatts of power in 1-ns pulses at wavelengths varying from 1.05 to 0.26 µm. The Nova laser is beginning experiments in the 10 to 100-terawatt range. There are numerous possible means of extending solid-state technology to the 500 to 1,000-terawatt level and to efficient, high-average-power operation.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Basov, N. G. & Krokhin, O. N. in Proc. 3rd Quantum Electron. Int. Conf., Paris, Vol. 2, 1373–1377 (Columbia University Press, 1964).
Nuckolls, J. H., Wood, L. L., Thiessen, A. R. & Zimmerman, G. B. Nature 239, 139–142 (1972).
Emmett, J. L., Nuckolls, J. H. & Wood, L. L. Scient. Am. 230, 24–37 (June 1974).
Ze, F. et al. Nucl. Fusion (in the press).
Matthews, D. L. et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 54, 110–113 (1985).
Rosen, M. D. et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 54, 106–109 (1985).
Schwarz, H. J. & Hora, H. Laser Interaction and Related Plasma Phenomena, Vols 1–6 (Plenum, New York, 1971-84).
Maiman, T. H., Hoskins, R. H., D'Haenens, I. J., Asawa, C. K. & Evtuhov, V. Phys. Rev. 4, 1151–1157 (1961).
Laser Program a. Rep. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory 1971-84 (UCRL-50021-71 to -84).
Emmett, J. L., Krupke, W. & Davis, J. I. IEEE. J. quant. Electron. 20, 591–602 (1984).
Seka, W. et al. Optics Commun. 34, 469–473 (1980).
Craxton, R. S. Optics Commun. 34, 474–478 (1980).
Linford, G. J. et al. Appl Opt. 21, 3633–3643 (1982); 22, 1957–1958 (1983).
Rhodes, C. K. (ed.) Excimer Lasers 2nd ed (Springer, New York, 1984).
Brederlow, G., Witte, K. J., Fill, E., Hohla, K. & Volk, R. IEEE J. Quantum Electron. QE-12, 152–155 (1976).
Emmett, J. L., Krupke, W. F. & Trenholme, J. B. Physics of Laser Fusion. The Future Development of High-Power Solid State Laser Systems Vol. 4 (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory UCRL-53344, November 1982).
Holzrichter, J. F. et al. J. Fusion Energy 2, 5–45 (1982).
Simmons, W. W. et al. in Proc. 9th Symp. Engng Problems of Fusion Res., Chicago, October 1981, Vol. 2, 1221–1273 (IEEE Publ. No. 81CH1715-2 NPS).
Hunt, J. T., Glaze, J. A., Simmons, W. W. & Renard, P. A. Appl. Opt. 17, 2053–2057 (1978).
Nuckolls, J. H. Phys. Today 35, 24–31 (1982).
Proc. Symp. on Laser Induced Damage in Optical Materials (National Bureau of Standards Spec. Publ. 1976-84).
Manes, K. et al. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Rep. UCRL-90054-Rev. 1 (1984).
Manes, K. R. & Simmons, W. W. J. opt. Soc. Am. A2, 528–538 (1985).
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Rep. UCRL-52000-85-2 (February 1985).
Holzrichter, J. F., Campbell, E. M., Lindl, J. D. & Storm, E. Science (in the press).
Henesian, J. F., Swift, C. D. & Murray, J. R. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Rep. Rep. UCRL-92621 (May 1985).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Holzrichter, J. High-power solid-state lasers. Nature 316, 309–314 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/316309a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/316309a0
This article is cited by
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
