Nearly-diffraction-limited laser focal spot obtained using an optically addressed light valve in an adaptive optics loop

Summary form only given. Ultra-intense laser systems with peak power in the 10 TW-1 PW range are difficult to focus close to the diffraction limit because of phase-front aberrations. In this paper, we describe a new technique we have implemented, which significantly improves the focal spot quality by correcting the wave front from a highly distorted laser beam. In this experiment, detection is achieved through an achromatic three-wave lateral shearing interferometer.