Zetawatt-Equivalent Ultra-short-pulse laser System (ZEUS)

The National Science Foundation ZEUS facility is undergoing its preliminary sub-PW commissioning in 2022. With the renovation of 5,000sf of HEPA-filtered cleanroom space and 2500sf of radiation-shielded laboratory space delivered in 2021, the Zetawatt Equivalent Ultrashort laser construction pulse System (ZEUS) is now in progress. At the front-end of the laser chain, an Amplitude Lasers Pulsar incorporates double Chirped Pulse Amplification (CPA) with five stages of amplification, three programmable phase/amplitude devices, and CROSS-Polarization Wave (XPW) modulation for contrast enhancement, delivering 1.5 J pulses with demonstrated compression to 20fs. Pulses amplified in subsequent stages 1 and 2, pumped at ?20J and ?50J, respectively, are directed into a 500TW vacuum-based compressor. A vacuum-coupled chamber and external optical table support measurement devices for recording pulse duration, spectrum, spectral and temporal phase, wavefront, and temporal contrast. We will show the full configuration of the ZEUS laser and the results of measurements quantifying the laser performance as it is amplified through the first two out of what will ultimately be three amplifier stages. We will also show the roadmap to the completion of the system’s construction in 2023.