In this paper we review the design and development of a 100 J, 10 Hz nanosecond pulsed laser, codenamed DiPOLE100X, being built at the Central Laser Facility (CLF). This 1 kW average power diode pumped solid state laser (DPSSL) is based on a master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) design, which includes two cryogenic gas cooled amplifier stages based on DiPOLE multi-slab ceramic Yb;YAG amplifier technology developed at the CLF. The laser will produce pulses between 2 and 15 ns in duration with precise, arbitrarily selectable shapes, at pulse repetition rates up to 10 Hz, allowing real time shape optimisation for compression experiments. Once complete, the laser will be delivered to the European X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) facility in Germany as a UK funded contribution-in-kind, where it will be used to study extreme states of matter at the High Energy Density (HED) instrument.
Mason Paul, Banerjee Saumyabrata, Smith Jodie, Butcher Thomas, Phillips Jonathan, Hoeppner Hauke, Moeller Dominik, Ertel Klaus, De Vido Mariastefania, Hollingham Ian, Norton Andrew, Tomlinson Stephanie, Zata Tinesimba, Suarez-Merchan Jorge, Hooker Chris, Tyldesley Mike, Toncian Toma, Hernandez-Gomez Christina, Edwards Chris, Collier John. Development of a 100 J, 10 Hz laser for compression experiments at the High Energy Density Instrument at the European XFEL[J]. High Power Laser Science and Engineering, , (): .
