Implementation of a high energy 4ω probe beam on the Omega laser

A high-energy, ultraviolet Thomson scattering probe beam has been implemented on the Omega laser facility at the University of Rochester. The new probe operates at a wavelength of 264 nm, with a maximum energy of 260 J in a pulse length of 1 ns. The probe is focused with an F/6.7 lens to a minimum focal spot of 40 μm within a pointing tolerance of <50 μm. Data obtained from this probe beam have provided new diagnostic information on plasmas relevant for inertial confinement fusion and atomic physics studies.