Asterix IV laser

The Asterix IV laser in Prague (commonly referred to by the acronym PALS for Prague Asterix Laser System) is a high power photolytically pumped iodine gas laser capable of producing ~300 to 500 picosecond long pulses of light at the fundamental line of 1.315 micrometres wavelength with a total energy of about 1 kilojoule (or tripled to the third harmonic at 438 nanometers with lower pulse energies) and peak powers of around 3 terawatts. There are also two smaller auxiliary beams capable of producing 100 J pulses. One of the research topics is X-ray generation in laser excited plasma.

PALS is open to both domestic and foreign researchers.

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  View of the master oscillator and 5 amplifier stages
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  Part of capacitor bank
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  Interaction chambers