Abstract

For the last two years the Asterix IV iodine laser (λ. = 1.3 µm) has delivered ~ 2500 shots for laser plasma experiments in a continuously upgraded and improved version. This laser has been developed based on 10 years of experience with the 1-TW Asterix III laser and with the support of a 1-D and a 3-D pulse propagation code. Special emphasis has been put on increasing the overall efficiency of the laser system and on obtaining a laser beam intensity profile as homogeneous as possible.

© 1992 Optical Society of America