Simultaneous Multiple Laser Tracker Solution to Align NIF’s 192 Laser Beams
July 13, 2010 at 10:30 am
Carson Rooms 2, 3 and 4, enter at Carson 2
Dan Nelson - Representing Lawrence Livermonre National Laboratory
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is continuing to push the limits of energy research, recently breaking the record for the world’s most powerful laser at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). As a critical part of the operation, the NIF survey team is tasked with keeping the 192 laser beams accurately aligned relative to the ignition target centered in the Target Chamber. Due to the nearly 2 million pound weight of the Target Chamber, the Target Bay building is settling and causing the position of Target Chamber Center (TCC) to change relative to the laser beams. The survey team has developed a process that uses 3 laser trackers linked together by a common control network to assist physicists with re-aligning the optics that control the trillion watt pulsed lasers. The application draws on the full functionality of a highly versatile metrology software package, Spatial Analyzer, to allow a real-time 6 DOF tracking of an alignment fixture attached to a deployable arm using all 3 laser tracker inputs simultaneously. The key information for translations in all three axis and rotations about these axis is computed and displayed for the adjustment team to correct the optics alignment. The process, challenges and solutions are to be presented.
Carson Rooms 2, 3 and 4, enter at Carson 2
Dan Nelson - Representing Lawrence Livermonre National Laboratory
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is continuing to push the limits of energy research, recently breaking the record for the world’s most powerful laser at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). As a critical part of the operation, the NIF survey team is tasked with keeping the 192 laser beams accurately aligned relative to the ignition target centered in the Target Chamber. Due to the nearly 2 million pound weight of the Target Chamber, the Target Bay building is settling and causing the position of Target Chamber Center (TCC) to change relative to the laser beams. The survey team has developed a process that uses 3 laser trackers linked together by a common control network to assist physicists with re-aligning the optics that control the trillion watt pulsed lasers. The application draws on the full functionality of a highly versatile metrology software package, Spatial Analyzer, to allow a real-time 6 DOF tracking of an alignment fixture attached to a deployable arm using all 3 laser tracker inputs simultaneously. The key information for translations in all three axis and rotations about these axis is computed and displayed for the adjustment team to correct the optics alignment. The process, challenges and solutions are to be presented.
