Objetivo
Description:
The ADAPTOOL programme consists in the development and implementation of active control of the spatial phase of Europe's high power laser facilities.
This will improve access by:
1. Improving the beam quality close to the diffraction limit;
2. Improving the shot rate of large laser systems;
3. Relaxing the tolerances and cost of optical components.
The fundamental principle of an Adaptive-Optic system is that of a process loop in which a wave front detector feeds correction signals to an optical actuator. This programme sets out to identify the most cost effective and technically appropriate solutions to the adaptive beam correction requirement for Europe's large-scale laser installations. We intend to exploit the rapidly advancing technology of commercial liquid crystal displays and we will pursue a parallel low risk development of existing deformable mirror technology.
Results:In the first 12 months of the project, partners have successfully designed, bought, built and implemented:
- radial shear interferometers and Shack Hartman sensors (wave front detection and measurements);
- deformable mirrors (commercially available or home made mirrors);
- laser beam propagation modelling with detection/correction closed loop;
- advanced liquid crystal spatial light modulator (designed for large aperture and high damage threshold purposes).
Project Manager:
Bruno Le Garrec, Centre d'Etudes Scientifiques et Techniques d'Aquitaine (CESTA) /Département des Lasers de Puissance, Bâtiment 214, Le Barp 33114, B.P. 2, France
Tel: +33-1-45956843
Fax: +33-1-45956505
E-Mail: blegarrec@bordeaux.cea.fr