Separate abstracts were prepared for twenty-four papers. (MHR)

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In order to investigate intense pulse propagation phenomena, as well as problems in laser and system design, a prototype single chain laser called CYCLOPS was constructed. This laser employs a 20-cm clear aperture disk amplifier in its final stage and produces a terawatt pulse whose brightness exceeds 10$sup 18$ watts/cm$sup 2$-ster. The CYCLOPS system is summarized and aspects of nonlinear propagation phenomena that are currently being addressed are discussed. (MOW)

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Specifications, operation, characteristics, cost, and experience with the NAL 15-ft bubble chamber are described. Beam availability and some experimental proposals are discussed. (WHK)

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With a view to the goal of net energy production from a DT microexplosion, two ideas (methods) are studied through which (separately or in combination) energy may be ''concentrated'' into a small volume and short period of time--the so-called space-time energy densification or compression. The advantages and disadvantages of lasers and relativistic electron-beam (E-beam) machines as the sources of such energy are studied and the amplification of laser pulses as a key factor in energy compression is discussed. The pulse length of present relativistic E-beam machines is the most serious limitation of this pulsed-power source. The first energy-compression idea discussed is the reasonably efficient production of short-duration, high-current relativistic electron pulses by the self interruption and restrike of a current in a plasma pinch due to the rapid onset of strong turbulence. A 1-MJ plasma focus based on this method is nearing completion at this Laboratory. The second energy- compression idea is based on laser-pulse production through the parametric amplification of a self-similar or solitary wave pulse, for which analogs can be found in other wave processes. Specifically, the second energy-compression idea is a proposal for parametric amplification of a solitary, transverse magnetic pulse in a coaxial cavity with a …

The Laser Fusion Program at the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory is presently emerging from a three-year period of intensive development of the tools required for significant DT implosion experiments of continuously increasing scale. These diverse tools include target design codes, sophisticated target fabrication techniques, radically new diagnostics instrumentation, high peak- power-high brightness laser technology, and fully integrated laser-target- diagnostic irradiation facilities. These tools have recently led to the successful production of neutrons from compressed DT-containing targets together with a wealth of correlating plasma physics data. The current status of major program activities at LLL will be reviewed and major future milestones will be projected. (auth)

A brief discussion on the use and performance of laser microdrilling is given. The fabrication of a ''ball-in-plate'' fusion target is described. (MOW)

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The basic concept of a time-of-flight spectrometer is illustrated. The spectrometer described can measure 14.1-MeV neutrons coming directly from the D-T plasma and also neutrons scattered by the air or ground or other structures within the vicinity of the flight path. (MOW)

Two dimensional computer simulation results of the two exploding pusher ball-plate targets are in approximate agreement with the experimental space and time integrated x-ray spectra, x-ray microscope data, neutron yields, and laser energy absorptions. Three parameters were used to characterize the laser absorption due to plasma instabilities. Two dumpall parameters were used to model the energy absorption and a single variable was used to define the electron temperature. The values, as well as the selection procedure for these parameters are discussed. (auth)

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A grazing x-ray microscope was shown to be able to photograph the x-ray emission from laser-produced plasmas between 0.8 and 4.0 keV with a spatial resolution of approximately 3 microns. The calibration of the x-ray mirror energy response functions and the x-ray film allow absolute measurements of the spatial and spectral distribution of the x-ray emission from laser fusion targets. (MOW)