The LEKKO VIII CO 2 gas laser system

The eight-beam CO 2 laser system, LEKKO VIII, producing 10 kJ for the inertial confinement fusion (ICF) research, has been completed. Advanced techniques developed with the LEKKO II 1 kJ laser have been fully implemented; such as a new type of laser gas, suppression of parasitic oscillation, and automatic operation of the system. A concept for a 100 kJ laser is examined as a feasible module design for a 1 MJ system.