Nova two beam automated target inserter (abstract)

To improve overall laser experiments system efficiency and provide an accurate, repeatable reentrant plasma diagnostic platform, an in‐vacuum automated robotic target inserter was designed and built. The instrument combines accurate target acquisition and deployment as well as linear positioning of the laser target in the two beam chamber. The linear translation system can extend unsupported over 4 ft in length with ∓0.01 mm resolution with repeatability of less than ∓10 μm. Any one of three laser targets can be selected from a control computer and be automatically inserted to target chamber center in less than 20 s. The system is modular by design in that the two degree‐of‐freedom end effector can easily be removed or replaced. Plasma diagnostics that can be installed on the linear positioning component of the instrument include imaging x‐ray spectrometers, pinhole cameras, and reentrant imaging targets such as those used for x‐ray backlighting. The flexibility in control of this system is based on its programmability and closed loop feedback inputs from optical motor encoders and position control switches integrated into the target array and linear translation system.