Helios: a 15 TW carbon dioxide laser-fusion facility

Helios is an eight-beam carbon dioxide laser and target facility for the study of laser-fusion processes. The design of the laser is based on the principle of the electron-beam controlled high-pressure electrical discharge. The eight beams deliver a total of 9 kJ to targets in subnanosecond pulses and the peak intensity at focus exceeds 1016 W/cm2/beam. The laser can be fired at 5 min intervals but the system shot rate is restricted to 2/h because of target insertion, alignment, and preparation of diagnostic systems