Laser driver is known to be the most mature tool for inertial confinement fusion (ICF) research. The high-power Nd glass laser driver is one of the most representative large-scale optical engineering projects, and its scale and overall performance represent the highest level of a nation’s science and technology. Many countries worldwide have built laser drivers to conduct ICF research, and some drivers have gone through several generations. The scale of the driver is continuously growing, and the laser performance is constantly improving. China is also an important player in the international stage of laser fusion research.

The Shanghai Institute of Optics and Mechanics (SIOM) is not only the cradle of China’s laser fusion, but also the birthplace of the Shenguang device, simplified as SG. The SIOM developed a relatively complete support system with unit technologies such as large-aperture Nd glass, pulse xenon flash lamps, thin films, and optical processing. Early research and development included the creation of a 108 W laser facility and a six-beam laser system. To further develop laser fusion research in China, a joint laboratory named National Laboratory on High Power Laser and Physics (NLHPLP) was established at the SIOM, thus ushering a new era of laser fusion research in China. Subsequently, the joint laboratory set up a series of laser facilities (Fig. 1), including the No. 12 laser facility (known as the SG Ⅰ facility), SG Ⅱ eight-beam facility, multifunctional SG Ⅱ 9th laser facility, SG Ⅱ UP facility (including the SG 9th high-energy PW system), and SG Ⅱ fs 5 PW laser facility. The No. 12 laser facility played a decisive role in China’s laser fusion research, demonstrating that China had become one of the few countries in the international high-power laser field with comprehensive research and development capabilities at that time. After combining the series of facilities, a multifunctional comprehensive platform, with the SG Ⅱ facility as the core, has been formed. It has supported many physical experiments and maintained efficient operation for many years. This platform has made important contributions to the research and development of fusion physics in China, and it has an important international status. On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the SIOM, a brief review of the series of high-power laser facilities built and the related technology development are presented.

The SG Ⅱ comprehensive platform is the crystallization of the collective wisdom of several generations, reflecting the persistent efforts of hundreds of scientists and engineering technicians. Each facility has its own unique features. During the development of the SG Ⅱ eight-beam (Fig. 5), a series of technical difficulties were independently addressed, and 15 new unit technologies were innovatively integrated. The innovative design and development of a switchless coaxial double-pass main amplification were successfully explored for the first time internationally. The SG Ⅱ 9th system is not only the second successful high-energy probe laser system after that built in the United States but also has the significant characteristics of high energy output, multi-functionality, and high-performance operation. As the first physical experimental platform in China to support fast ignition ICF research, the SG Ⅱ UP facility consists of eight nanosecond laser beams and one kilojoule-level picosecond laser beam. The entire amplification chain of the nanosecond laser beam adopts a multi-pass amplification optical structure of four pass cavity amplification + two pass booster amplification + large aperture PEPC. The high-energy picosecond pulsed laser system adopts the overall technical route of high-power optical parametric chirped pulse amplification combined with Nd glass chirped pulse amplification. The SG Ⅱ fs 5 PW facility is entirely based on three-level non collinear OPCPA to achieve a 150 J/30 fs laser pulse output at the target wavelength of 808 nm.

Aiming at the major strategic needs of the country, the NLHPLP has two main development lines: research and development of high-power laser technology and facilities and efficient operation of the facilities. In addition, the laboratory puts special emphasis on international cooperation and exchanges, providing hundreds of experiments for international users. The NLHPLP will continue to play a role in the future development of laser ICF projects, opening up new content and creating its own unique core technology according to future needs.