Compact 300-J/300-GW Frequency-Doubled Neodymium Glass Laser—Part II: Description of Laser Setup

All the basic elements of a 300 J/1 ns Nd:glass laser with high-efficiency (70%) frequency conversion are described in detail. These include a seed laser, a system shaping the spatial structure of the beam, a six-cascade amplifier based on neodymium phosphate glass rods 10-100 mm in diameter, and a second-harmonic generator on a DKDP crystal with ooe interaction. Reliable and easy operation guaranteed long-term functioning of the laser as a pump for the output cascade of a chirped pulse parametric amplifier in a petawatt laser complex.