Energy and Technology Review, April-May 1986

Some technical challenges were solved to construct the large-aperture frequency-conversion arrays for NOVA. Among these are precision machining of potassium dihydrogen phosphate crystals, precise crystal orientation, and reflection coatings. New glass-melting techniques are reported that can produce the inclusion-free glass that will be used to replace the glass disks now in the NOVA laser amplifiers. A system for detecting microscopic inclusions in optical glass is described. A second target chamber has been added that uses two beams of the NOVA laser. Recent achievements in soft x-ray lasing are discussed. The Laser Experiments Analysis Facility (LEAF) is described briefly. The Cascade reactor, a concept for producing electricity from inertial confinement fusion, is discussed. (LEW)