Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 March 2009
The effect of small-scale wavefront perturbations on laser radiation is investigated at flux densities close to maximum. The model and calculated results for the effect of the degree of radiation coherence on the laser radiation brightness as functions of flux density and length and shape of the active medium are presented. For the restricted coherence of the laser radiation, the rate of small-scale perturbation growth is shown to decrease in theactive medium. The principal optical scheme of a laser for fusion experiments, with the maximum radiation brightness, is given as an example.