Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has installed and commissioned the highest peak power laser diode arrays in the world, representing total peak power of 3.2 megawatts (MW).
by John Hasier
Scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have built a 3.2 MW diode array, the largest such laser power source, or "pump," of this type ever manufactured. The diode arrays are the first stage of the High-Repetition-Rate Advanced Petawatt Laser System (HAPLS), a 1 Petawatt pulsed laser that can pulse 10 times a second. During the brief 30 femtoseconds of each pulse this laser will output over 50 times the average power consumed by all other devices in the world combined. After initial testing it will be moved to it's final home in the Extreme Light Infrastructure in Europe. In addition to being a component in a rad-sounding machine and being a "huge freakin laser," HAPLS will be much more compact than traditional "flashlamp" pumped high power lasers--like those in use at the National Ignition Facility or most laser manufacturing facilities. The increase in power, repetition rate and decrease in size will allow for more than faster nuclear physics experiments. Next generation high strength, high fatigue metals can be developed via high power laser peening.that is out of reach of all but the largest highest power current generation lasers. Better Worlds is excited by these even bigger lasers and the potential they have to shape the world of tomorrow.
