Plasma-Electrode Pockel Cell (PEPC)

[SteveeGeorge]

Hi all,

I am trying to further my understanding of the Plasma-Electrode Pockel Cell, particularly used at the National Ignition facility. As I currently understand it, its used as an optical switch by rotating the polarization of light when it passes through a KDP crystal and plasma electrodes, but I don't fully understand how it works.

Could anyone shine some light on this for me?

-Steve

 

[Astronuc]

Hi all,

I am trying to further my understanding of the Plasma-Electrode Pockel Cell, particularly used at the National Ignition facility. As I currently understand it, its used as an optical switch by rotating the polarization of light when it passes through a KDP crystal and plasma electrodes, but I don't fully understand how it works.

Could anyone shine some light on this for me?

-Steve

This apparently explains it with respect to its function at NIF.
https://lasers.llnl.gov/about/how-nif-works/seven-wonders/optical-switch

Some more details - http://www.lle.rochester.edu/media/publications/lle_review/documents/v107/107_01HighContrast.pdf

https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc626447/m2/1/high_res_d/113982.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pockels_effect

 

[raining Pete]

Hi Steve,

The Plasma-Electrode Pockel Cell (PEPC) is indeed used as an optical switch at the National Ignition Facility. It works by utilizing the Pockels effect, which is the change in the refractive index of a medium in the presence of an electric field. In the case of the PEPC, the medium is a KDP crystal and the electric field is created by plasma electrodes.

When the light passes through the KDP crystal, it experiences a change in its polarization due to the Pockels effect. The plasma electrodes can then be used to manipulate the electric field, and therefore the refractive index of the crystal, allowing for precise control over the polarization of the light passing through.

This allows the PEPC to act as a fast and efficient optical switch, as the polarization of the light can be rapidly changed by adjusting the electric field. This is particularly useful for high-energy laser systems, such as the one at the National Ignition Facility, where precise control over the laser's output is crucial.

I hope this helps to clarify how the PEPC works. Let me know if you have any other questions.