SPRITE - A VERY HIGH-BRIGHTNESS, ULTRAVIOLET-LASER SYSTEM

The Sprite KrF/Raman laser system has been developed, over the last 12 years, into one of the world's brightest laser sources. It is now a f ully scheduled user facility delivering more than 1900 shots per year to a dedicated target chamber. A laser development programme is also s upported, addressing the future requirements of the high-power laser c ommunity. Sprite has traditionally been operated as a KrF-pumped Raman laser, delivering 10 ps pulses of very high brightness (approximately 10(20) W cm-2 sterad-1) and exceptional prepulse contrast ratio ( > 1 0(10). Direct amplification of pulses as short as 3 ps is practical in the Sprite KrF chain, and a chirped pulse amplification scheme has no w been implemented delivering 300 fs pulses to target with a power of 1 TW. The next major upgrade to the system will be the installation of a new 40 cm aperture amplifier, Titania, designed to deliver up to 40 0 J in four Raman pulses.