Multichannel diode-pumped Nd:glass zig-zag slab amplifier for XCELS facility

Laser system for pumping OPCPA preamplifiers at the XCELS facility, with a pulse energy of 40 J per channel is being developed. The system is based on a multichannel Nd:glass zig-zag slab amplifier, water cooling and transverse diode pumping at 870 nm. The simulation results of the pumping, laser pulse amplification and thermally induced wavefront distortions are presented.