Influence of the input radiation pulse characteristics on the parameters of a XeF(C – A) amplifier in a THL-100 laser system

We report the results of experimental and theoretical investigations on the influence of spatial and energy parameters of input radiation with a pulse duration of 50 ps on output characteristics of a XeF(C – A) amplifier in a visible-range, multi-terawatt THL-100 laser system. Dynamics of the energy density radial distribution for laser radiation passing through the amplifier is studied. Results of numerical simulation are presented for amplification of laser beams with Gaussian and super-Gaussian radial energy density distributions. It is shown that the laser energy of 3.2 J obtained experimentally is not the limiting value. According to calculations, the output energy of the amplifier with such mirror configuration may reach 4.1 J, which in the case of a pulse compressed down to 50 fs corresponds to the radiation power of 82 TW.