Development of a laser glass for the National Ignition Facility

Joseph S. Hayden; John H. Campbell; Stephen A. Payne

doi:10.1117/12.719749

2 May 2007 Development of a laser glass for the National Ignition Facility

Joseph S. Hayden, John H. Campbell, Stephen A. Payne

Proceedings Volume 6545, Window and Dome Technologies and Materials X; 654508 (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.719749
Event: Defense and Security Symposium, 2007, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

We review the development of a new glass formulation and manufacturing technology for a neodymium-doped phosphate based laser glass used in the LLNL National Ignition Facility (NIF) and the French Laser MegaJoule (LMJ). The glass development process built on both accumulated experience and the utilization of glass science principles, and the resultant new glass offers superior laser properties in combination with improvements in physical properties to enhance manufacturing yield. Essentially in parallel, a continuous melting production line was also conceived, designed and operated to meet both the schedule and cost targets of the NIF. Prior to 1997, phosphate laser glasses were manufactured by a discontinuous pot-melting process with limited production rate and associated high costs. The continuous melting process met several technical challenges, including producing glass with low residual water content and absence of inclusions which become damage sites when used in the NIF laser system.

Citation Download Citation

Joseph S. Hayden, John H. Campbell, and Stephen A. Payne "Development of a laser glass for the National Ignition Facility", Proc. SPIE 6545, Window and Dome Technologies and Materials X, 654508 (2 May 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.719749

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