Development of the diagnostic laser for deep UV probing of the dense Z-pinch

Lasers are powerful tools for investigation of dense plasmas. UV laser diagnostics at the wavelength of 266 nm were recently developed for Z-pinch plasma. The absorption and refraction in plasma are significantly smaller in the UV range that allows investigation of the fine structure of the stagnated dense Z-pinch. Further development of deep UV diagnostics needs in a laser with high energy, short pulse duration, and smooth beam profile. A Nd:glass laser meets these requirements if operates at the fourth, fifth and sixth harmonics. We have developed a Nd:glass laser for operation at 263 and 211nm with pulse durations of 150ps and 2ns, output aperture of 45mm, and energy \textgreater~1J at 263nm and \textgreater~0.2J at 211nm. The laser will allow the development of new deep UV diagnostics for dense Z-pinches: multiframe interferometry, tomography, streaked shadowgraphy, and high-resolution Faraday rotation diagnostics.