8.4 Shot Preparations and Planning Process

Scheduled experiments are planned such that they meet physics goals while not compromising on facility safety. This is the longest phase of the experiment process, and the MRE Team will guide you through the process. The Shot Responsible Individual (RI) collaborates with the MRE Team on a target design that will allow the experiment goals to be achieved. The Shot RI specifies laser performance and pulse shaping, which may drive pre-experiment calibration activities or performance tests. Diagnostic requirements will need to be defined to ensure that sufficient resources are in place to make the required measurements. At various points in the planning phase, expert group members review the details of the experiment definition to ensure that the experiment falls within the laser and facility safety and security envelope. Iterations on experiment designs are common during this phase.