Dynamics of secondary contamination from the interaction of high-power laser pulses with metal particles attached on the input surface of optical components.

Abstract

We investigate the interaction of 355-nm and 1064-nm nanosecond laser pulses with nominally spherical metallic particles dispersed on the input surface of transparent substrates or high-reflectivity (HR) multilayer dielectric coatings, respectively. The objective is to elucidate the interaction mechanisms associated with contaminant-induced degradation and damage of transparent and reflective optical elements for high-power laser systems. The experiments involve time-resolved imaging capturing the dynamics of the interaction pathway, which includes plasma formation, particle ejection, and secondary contamination by droplets originating from the liquefied layer of the particle. The results suggest that HR coatings are more susceptible to secondary contamination by liquid droplets produced by the particles because of the different geometry of excitation and the location of plasma initiation. Modeling results focus on better understanding the melting of the particle surface, leading to ejections of liquid droplets and the pressure applied to the substrate, leading to mechanical damage.