Estimate of the maximum output parameters of amplifiers with wavefront reversal

The problem of optimizing a laser amplifier in terms of output of the stored energy is analyzed for a finite value of the total breakup integral and an infinite gain increment. Optimum laws for expansion of the optical beam are determined. It is found that when the divergence of the radiation is close to the diffraction limit and the law governing expansion of the optical beam is optimal, a wavefront-reversing amplifier with a total breakup integral equal to the breakup integral for a single stage of an amplifier with spatial filtering is at least equal to the latter in respect of the output energy density and stored energy utilization efficiency and is substantially better than the latter in terms of brightness.