We report on the results of experiments performed on the Iskra-5 laser facility for studying the effect of the polydeuteroethylene (CD 2 ) n working layer thickness on the operation parameter of an inverted-corona target. In all experiments of this series, the neutron yield at a level of 10 7 –3 × 10 8 DD neutrons per shot was detected for the total laser radiation energy supplied to the target by 12 second-harmonic beams in the range of 1.6–2.2 kJ. Using the neutron time-of-flight technique, we have detected an increase in the ion temperature from approximately 6.4 to 14 keV upon a decrease in the (CD 2 ) n layer thickness from 1 to 0.1 μm.
The results of the development and experience of operation of a modernized charging system of the capacitor bank of the Iskra-5 laser facility are presented. The main performance characteristics of the devices that are included in the charging system are presented. A method for creating the hardware and software for the remote control and monitoring of the parameters of charging devices is described. The serviceability of the charging system during the operation of the facility is evaluated.
The hydrodynamics of the flow formation due to the interaction of a shock wave with two-dimensional density perturbations is experimentally investigated on the Iskra-5 laser facility. Shadow images of a jet arising as a result of the impact of a shock wave (formed by a soft X-ray pulse from a target-illuminator) on a flat aluminium target with a blind cylindrical cavity are recorded in experiments with point-like X-ray backlighting having a photon energy of ~4.5 keV. The sizes and mass of the jet ejected from the aluminium cavity by this shock wave are estimated. The experimental data are compared with the results of numerical simulation of the jet formation and dynamics according to the two-dimensional MID-ND2D code.
Various ways to create a master radiator at wavelength 1.315 mu m are considered, and its optimum construction layout is chosen, based on obtaining efficient emission of the second Stokes component in a stimulated-Raman-scattering solid-state laser. An analysis is given of active crystals, and two solid-state pairs are proposed: laser crystal Gd3Ga5O12: Nd + a crystal of KY(WO4)(2), and laser crystal LaF3: Nd + a crystal of KGd (WO4)(2) A version of the layout with reduced losses is considered, based on Stokes components with simultaneous suppression of parasitic inversion dumping at a neodymium transition in the 1.3-mu m region. The laser signal is amplified in a preamplifier stage based on iodine vapor, the gain was 150, and an output energy up to 60 mJ is obtained. (C) 2014 Optical Society of America.
A train of a few tens of high-power subnanosecond laser pulses with a repetition period of 10 ns is generated in the Iskra-5 facility. The laser pulse train has an energy of up to 300 J and contains up to 40 pulses (by the 0.15 intensity level), the single pulse duration in the train being ∼0.5 ns. The results of experiments on conversion of a train of laser pulses to a train of X-ray pulses are presented. Upon irradiation of a tungsten target, a train of X-ray pulses is generated with the shape of an envelope in the spectral band from 0.18 to 0.28 keV similar to that of the envelope of the laser pulse train. The duration of a single X-ray pulse in the train is equal to that of a single laser pulse.
The twelve-channel 'Iskra-5' iodine laser facility was updated to enable investigations in the regime of high-power two-pulse target irradiation, when the second pulse is delayed by a time of up to 10 μs relative to the first one and possesses an energy equal to or comparable with the energy of the first pulse.