Large-Aperture Glass Disk Laser System

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Abstract
A study of a glass laser designed to operate at extremely high power and radiance for possible use in the production of strong shock waves and high‐temperature plasmas is presented. The design makes use of titled face‐pumped disks of neodymium‐doped glass. The advantages and disadvantages of the four proposed ways to use such a laser are considered. To test the disk concept, a system of five 12.5‐cm‐diam, 1.25‐cm‐thick disks was constructed. Design considerations and the results of several measurements with the experimental system are presented. Measurements of the single‐pass gain of the five disks showed a gain coefficient of 0.054/cm, which indicates an energy storage of 0.68 J/cm3, or 100 J per disk.