Fan Dianyuan (1939- ) is a native of Changshu, Jiangsu. Fan is a laser physicist. He graduated from Physics Department of Peking University in 1962, and he obtained his master's degree from Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1966. He is an academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He has taken on research on high power laser and its physical application since 1972 till now. He developed laminated laser which increased output power and number of neutron to a higher level, making it possible to develop high power laser later. In 1978, project of "Laser nuclear fusion" was awarded National Science Conference Prize. His 1011W large-size one-way Nd glass laser facility played an important role in some physics experimental research such as inertial confinement fusion and high-light Roman scattering. He was also one of the leaders in developing "Laser-12 Facility" whose output power can reach 1012W (known as "Shenguang" Facility) and which won State Scientific and Technological Progress Award, First Class in 1990. He publicized more than 70 theses and reports in field of optics, high power laser system and unit, and optical beam transmission.

INTRODUCTION TO LASER-12 FACILITY

Deng Ximing, Fan Dianyuan and Yu Wenyan

(Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Laser-12 Facility, named "SHEN-GUANG", is the largest Nd. glass laser system in China. The general technical performances of the facility have reached an internationally advanced level in comparing with the similar facilities in the world.

It consists of laser driver subsystem with two beams, high accuracy target chamber, diagnostic subsystem and laboratory environment engineering, etc. The output laser power is up to 10¹²W for each beam with diameter 200mm and wavelength 1.053 mm. Divergence angle 'of the laser beam is 0.1mrad and pulse rejection (rate of signal to noise) up to 10⁷-10⁸.

The facility is used for experimental research on laser inertial confinement fusion (ICF), X-ray laser, Equation of state of material under high pressure, and other laser plasma physics research at the world frontiers field.
Since the facility was built in 1986, considerable progresses have been made, e.g.:

• In indirect-driven ICF experiments, the radiation temperature inside hohlraum cavity reached 130ev, and neutron 'yield about 10⁴.
• In Ne-like Ge X-ray laser research, using a unique "multi-target series coupling" design, we obtained obvious gain saturation and effective GL values more than 17 for lasing lines 23.2, 23.6 nm respectively. The divergence angle of the X-ray beam is up to 1.5 mrad. It is the best result in the world.
• In equation of state of material measurements, using "lens array "method, a unique target uniform illumination technique, we obtained high shock wave pressure range from 0.4 to 0.8 TPa on Al-Cu impedance match targets. Its shock adiabat is measured accurately. The experimental data are closely in accord with that of the extra-polation both from measurement using high explosive-loading facility (the lower pressure) and underground nuclear test (the higher pressure).

The "Laser-12 Facility" will be upgraded to eight beams facility. Total laser energy will increase to 6kJ (for 1ns), and wavelength range expand to green (0.53 mm) and ultraviolet (0.35 mm).