THE OMEGA-LASER ELECTRONIC TIMING SYSTEM

A high-precision, computer-controlled electronic timing system has bee n built for the OMEGA inertial confinement fusion laser. The timing sy stem consists of five modular subcomponents and is easily expandable t o produce any number of delay channels. The timing from the system is synchronized by a distributed clock, which is derived from the radio-f requency-signal that drives the mode-locked laser master oscillator. T he system produces IEEE RS-170 television synchronization signals and several subfrequencies for operating different parts of the laser Perf ormance of the system and cost will be discussed. (C) 1997 American In stitute of Physics.