Performance of a high-resolution deformable mirror for wavefront correction on the LIL/LMJ and PETAL baselines

The performance of a high-resolution deformable mirror (HRDM) is analyzed for wavefront correction on the CEA high-power laser baselines in France : the Laser Megajoule (LMJ), the Laser Integration Line (LIL) and the Petawatt Aquitaine Laser (PETAL). This study is achieved using monochromatic numerical simulations with the CEA MIRO laser propagation code. When compared to the LMJ deformable mirror used alone, the HRDM located at the L-turn is shown to give equivalent performance at filtering pinholes whereas the HRDM located at injection is less efficient. The use of an HRDM improves the impulse response of the LIL/LMJ main amplifier section. As a consequence, on the PETAL 1ω focal spot, it gives a reduction of factor 2.7 of the radius at 80% of encircled energy and an increase up to 40% of the peak intensity. Finally, maximum mechanical amplitude of 10 nm is numerically evaluated for sinusoidal phase technological defects in the case of the HRDM located at the L-turn.