Among possible approaches to fusion energy, we regard the Proton Fast Ignition (PFI) as the most credible. PFI as an alternate route to ignition was triggered by the discovery of ultra-bright beams of protons produced by ultra-intense lasers.
Protons are advantageous to other ion species and electrons. Because of their highest ionic charge-to-mass ratio, they are accelerated most efficiently up to the highest energies. They can penetrate deep into a target to reach the high-density region, where the hot spot is to be formed. And they exhibit a characteristic maximum energy deposition at the end of their range, desirable to heat a localized volume. Thus, Focused Energy Inc. has chosen PFI for the primary pathway to fusion energy.
Driving nonlinear processes in scientific and upcoming industrial applications has been a topic with increasing interest and activities in the last years. Examples are the production of very short wavelengths via direct driven plasma light-sources (incoherent) or high-harmonic generation (coherent), optical parametric chirped pulse amplification to different wavelengths and shorter pulses and direct pulse shortening via self-phase modulation and subsequent compression down to the few-cycle pulse duration regime. We report on multi100W ultrafast laser sources with 1ps pulse durations and below and <10mJ pulse energies based on the InnoSlab laser-concept. Achieved beam qualities are M2<1.2 at average power stabilities in the 0.1% regime. Measured pulse stabilities are around 1% (rms) and pulse intensity contrasts well exceed 50dB for preceding or following pulses. These stability values together with the high average pulse power are very well suited for use as drivers of nonlinear optical processes. We show that these sources can be integrated into very compact housings with full computer control which additionally eases the practical use for further processing of the radiation.
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