Pulsed power for the Electra KrF laser

Electra is a rep-rate krypton fluoride (KrF) laser that will be used to develop the technology required for an inertial fusion energy (IFE) power plant. Electra will use the same type of architecture as the Nike 60 cm amplifier, e.g. double-sided electron beam pumping of the laser gas, but it will run at 5 Hz and use technologies that can meet the IFE requirements for efficiency, durability, and cost. The size of Electra was chosen to be small enough to be manageable, yet large enough to confidently scale the developed technologies to a power plant-size system. We will build two 5 Hz pulsed power systems for Electra. The first system is based on existing technology. It will be built in the first year of the program and will allow us to start development of the laser components early in the second year. The second system will use advanced components. It will take 3-4 years to build, and will develop the technologies that can meet the IFE requirements. It will be installed on Electra for an integrated test.