GDL: A high-power 0.35 µm laser irradiation facility

The glass development laser (GDL) single beam 0.35 μm laser irradiation facility is now operational at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics of the University of Rochester. The system is based on a frequency tripled Nd:phosphate glass laser and is capable of generating in excess of 200 GW in 100 ps and 54 J in 0.5 ns pulses at 0.35 μm. A discussion of the system design, performance, and applications is presented in this paper.