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The growth of optical radiation, scattered transverse to the pump axis by stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in optical windows, is considered. Basic equations are presented, and an analytic expression that determines the parasitic buildup time is derived for a transverse SBS geometry. Losses suffered by the scattered optical radiation are included in a bulk-loss term. Calculations are performed for fused-silica windows and compared with a numerical model. This parasitic process may affect the design of laser systems that will generate multinanosecond, multikilojoule, narrow-band pulses in the ultraviolet region.

Two different types of KrF lasers currently being analyzed as potential laser-fusion drivers: large electron-beam (e-beam)- pumped amplifiers using pure optical multiplexing for pulse compression and small e-beam sustained discharge lasers using a hybrid pulse compression technique. Both types of KrF lasers appear able to satisfy all of the requirements for commercial-applications ICF drivers, including cost, efficiency, pulse shaping, energy scaling, repetition rate, reliability, and target coupling. The KrF driver can effectively operate at efficiencies > 10% and can contribute < 10 mill/kWh to the cost of electric power production, with the total estimated cost of electricity from either KrF laser system being comparable (25 to 50 mill/kWh, 1985 dollars) with the cost from other methods of electric power production. The Aurora facility is described.