A 12-Channel Powerful Laser Installation “Delfin” for Spherical Heating of Thermonuclear Targets

A 12-channel powerful laser installation “DELFIN” for high-temperature heating of thermonuclear targets in spherical geometry of irradiation is described. The installation includes the neodymium laser system with ultimate light energy 10 kJ, light pulse duration 10-10∼10-9 s and the divergence of radiation about 5.10-4 rad, the vacuum chamber for laser radiation-plasma interaction, and a set of diagnostic systems for the study of laser and plasma parameters. The optical scheme and construction peculiari-ties of the laser system are under consideration. The analysis of different radiation focusing schemes is performed, and the description of the “DELFIN” focusing system allowing the obtaining of a high degree of the spherical symmetry for target irradiation at the maximum flux density achieving 1015 W/cm2 at the target surface, is given. The most important problems of laser plasma investigations and general diagnostic methods of their solution are under consideration.