Control for the Shiva laser system

The most recent laser system at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory is ''Shiva'' (peak power, over 2 x 10/sup 13/ W). The goal of Shiva is to demonstrate significant thermonuclear burn by isentropic compression of the deuterium/tritium target to more than 1,000 times its normal liquid density. Isentropic compression requires a shaped laser pulse, carefully controlled irradiation of the target, and high laser power and energy. Therefore, Shiva has been designed to deliver focusable energy of more than 10 kJ within less than 1 nsec. The main elements of the Shiva laser system are a master oscillator, 20 separate laser amplifier chains mounted on a space frame, and an isolated target chamber. The Shiva laser system is controlled by a net of computers. Each of the four major laser sections (power conditioning, alignment, beam diagnostics, and target diagnostics) is interfaced to sets of first-level microprocessors. These are, in turn, connected to a second-level minicomputer associated with each laser section. A top-level computer connected to the four minicomputers will provide overall integrated control.