Laser Amplifier Section
date: label: date made
content: 1977
name: label: maker
content: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
notes: label: Description
content: This is one section of a laser amplifier tube from the Shiva experimental fusion apparatus, operated at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory from 1978 through 1981. Scientists used the Shiva device to test theories about how lasers might be used to trigger a nuclear fusion reaction. The research program was part of the continuing quest to harness nuclear fusion as a source of energy.
label: Description
content: Lasers are useful in this type of research since they emit such a narrow beam of intense radiation. Shiva focused the energy of twenty laser beams on a tiny target of fuel to determine how the fuel would react. This amplifier tube is a short section of one of the twenty beam paths and contains panels of neodymium glass that strengthen and focus the light beam. Device included in Shiva laser chain, 1977-81. Power amplification - maximum 20. Donor notes: "These amplifiers were used in Shiva, a twenty-arm pulsed glass laser which preceded the Novette and Nova lasers."
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
topic: label: Subject
content: Laser
label: Subject
content: Nuclear power
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Electricity
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content: Energy & Power
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content: Lasers
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content: Science & Mathematics
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1985.0236.11
label: accession number
content: 1985.0236
label: catalog number
content: 1985.0236.11
objectType: label: Object Name
content: amplifier
label: Object Name
content: laser amplifier
label: Other Terms
content: amplifier; Lasers and Masers
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal (part material)
label: Physical Description
content: neodymium glass (part material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 60 in x 23 in; x 152.4 cm x 58.42 cm
label: Measurements
content: overall: 47 in x 71 in x 49 in; 119.38 cm x 180.34 cm x 124.46 cm