Laser–plasma-interaction experiments using multikilojoule lasers

Abstract

This paper summarizes the results of several laser–plasma-interaction experiments using multikilojoule lasers, and considers their implications for laser fusion. The experiments used 1·06-, 0·53-, 0·35-, and 0·26-μm light to produce relatively large, warm, planar plasmas and to study the effect of laser wavelength and density-gradient scale length on the Stimulated Raman Scattering and on the scattering of light at frequencies near the incident laser frequencey by Stimulated Brillouin Scattering or other processes. The results of these experiments suggest that some laser wavelength between 0·2 and 0·6 μm will be required for high-gain laser fusion.