A Programmable Beam Shaping System for Tailoring the Profile of High Fluence Laser Beams

Summary Customized spatial light modulators (SLMs) are revolutionizing beam shaping for high-energy fusion-class laser systems. Designed for precision optical control, these modulators are strategically placed in a low-fluence relay plane to introduce programmable beam obscurations, mitigating potential damage from small optical component flaws that could otherwise limit system performance. This two-stage system employs 1920 × […]

Meadowlark Optics Has Pivotal Role in Fusion Research

The Beginning    Back in 1952, the first useful demonstration of nuclear fusion was carried out.  It was for vastly different reasons than those celebrated most recently, although one might say that was when interest in atomic science for practical applications really blew up (pun intended.) Physicists have been seeking fusion as a viable energy source ever since, with […]