PRAGUE ASTERIX LASER SYSTEM (PALS) - PHYSICAL PROGRAM AND PLANS

Prague Asterix Laser System (PALS) installed in the user type laboratory is described. This kJ class, subnanosecond, 3 TW near infrared system is a par t of EU cooperation network of laser user facilities Lasernet and about 1/5 of its capacity is offered under the scheme of so called transnational access to European users. Various physical programmes run on this system are briefly outlined. The proposed u pgrades have mostly in view an enhancement of utility of the system with respect to the access scheme. The most ambitious among them are extensions (i) into the very short wavelength domain by implementing an x -ray laser (ii) into the femtosecond region by using a parallel Optical Parametric Chirped Pulse Amplification (OPCPA) chain.