Laser-induced Damage Performance Research Articles

Subsurface defects characterization and laser damage performance of fused silica optics during HF-etched process

Subsurface defects of fused silica optics would vary with HF-etched process. In this paper, the subsurface defects characteristics of HF-etched fused silica optics and their effects on laser induced damage were investigated. The results suggest that most of metal impurities defects (especially Ce element) of fused silica optics can be dissolved in strong acid solution. Subsurface damage can be removed by submerging fused silica optics in HF-based etchants. Laser damage resistance is improved through the removal of metal impurities and subsurface damage. Optical thermal absorption describes the laser absorption characterization of fused silica subsurface layer. A good correlation between optical thermal absorption and laser-induced damage performance is shown in this paper. Laser damage performance deteriorates when the HF-based etching depth exceeds one value, which can be explained by the impurities redeposition and surface roughness increase. Research results have a guiding significance for HF-based etching process technology of fused silica optics.

Subsurface defects of fused silica optics and laser induced damage at 351 nm

Many kinds of subsurface defects are always present together in the subsurface of fused silica optics. It is imperfect that only one kind of defects is isolated to investigate its impact on laser damage. Therefore it is necessary to investigate the impact of subsurface defects on laser induced damage of fused silica optics with a comprehensive vision. In this work, we choose the fused silica samples manufactured by different vendors to characterize subsurface defects and measure laser induced damage. Contamination defects, subsurface damage (SSD), optical-thermal absorption and hardness of fused silica surface are characterized with time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), fluorescence microscopy, photo-thermal common-path interferometer and fully automatic micro-hardness tester respectively. Laser induced damage threshold and damage density are measured by 351 nm nanosecond pulse laser. The correlations existing between defects and laser induced damage are analyzed. The results show that Cerium element and SSD both have a good correlation with laser-induced damage thresholds and damage density. Research results evaluate process technology of fused silica optics in China at present. Furthermore, the results can provide technique support for improving laser induced damage performance of fused silica.

The effect of laser beam size on laser-induced damage performance

The influence of laser beam size on laser-induced damage performance, especially damage probability and the laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT), is investigated. It is found that damage probability is dependent on beam size when various damage precursors with different potential behaviors are involved. This causes the damage probability and the LIDT to be different between cases under a large-aperture beam and a small-aperture beam. Moreover, the fluence fluctuation of the large-aperture laser beam brings out hot spots, which move randomly across the beam from shot to shot. Thus this leads the most probable maximum fluence after many shots at any location on the optical component to be several times the average beam fluence. These two effects result in the difference in the damage performance of the optical component between the cases under a large-aperture and small-aperture laser.

Experimental comparison of damage performance induced by nanosecond 1 laser between K9 and fused silica optics

The initial damage threshold, the damage growth threshold and the damage growth laws of K9 glass and fused silica glass are tested respectively in the same experimental condition with 1 nanosecond laser. The comparison of the laser induced damage performance between the two glass materials is performed. The results show that the initial damage thresholds of the two glass materials are the same, the damage area growths both obey the exponential increase rule and their damage depth growths obey the linear increase rule. However, there is apparent difference in the rule of damage growth. For example, the damage growth threshold is lower and the damage growth coefficient is higher for K9 glass. This can be explained by the difference in the material mechanical strength between the two glass materials. The present research is very important for choosing transparent optical materials used in high power laser.

Damage performance of TiO2/SiO2 thin film components induced by a long-pulsed laser

In order to study the long-pulsed laser induced damage performance of optical thin films, damage experiments of TiO2/SiO2 films irradiated by a laser with 1ms pulse duration and 1064nm wavelength are performed. In the experiments, the damage threshold of the thin films is measured. The damages are observed to occur in isolated spots, which enlighten the inducement of the defects and impurities originated in the films. The threshold goes down when the laser spot size decreases. But there exists a minimum threshold, which cannot be further reduced by decreasing the laser spot size. Optical microscopy reveals a cone-shaped cavity in the film substrate. Changes of the damaged sizes in film components with laser fluence are also investigated. The results show that the damage efficiency increases with the laser fluence before the shielding effects start to act.

Laser damage performance of KD2–xHxPO4 crystals following X-ray irradiation

We investigate the laser-induced damage performance of KD(2-chi)H(chi)PO(4) crystals following exposure to X-ray irradiation. Two important issues addressed by our study are i) the performance of the material when operational conditions lead to its exposure to ionizing irradiation and ii) the way the radiation-induced transient defects interact with the pre-existing precursor defects responsible for laser-induced damage. Our results indicate that the damage performance of the material is affected by exposure to X-rays. This behavior is attributed to a change in the physical properties of the precursors which, in turn, affect their ability to initiate damage following interaction with X-ray generated defects.

Preparation and laser induced damage properties of rare earth doped BAS glass

Rare earth doped B 2O 3-Al 2O 3-SiO 2 glass (RE x BAS, x=5, 10, 20; RE=La, Sm) were prepared by solid state reaction method. Optical transmission spectra of such glass were characterized by ultraviolet spectrometers, and 1064 nm laser induced damage performance was investigated through the method of “1-on-1”. The results indicated that there was a strong absorptive peak near 1064 nm in Sm x BAS glass, the peak was enhanced with increasing x. While La x BAS glass was transparent to 1064 nm laser, at the same time, the results of laser induced damage showed that the anti-laser induced damage performance of such glass was strengthened with the addition of rare earth oxide. Furthermore, the laser induced damage threshold (LIDT) of Sm x BAS glass was significantly higher than that of La x BAS glass. Consequently, Sm 3+ doping was favor in the improvement of anti-laser induced damage performance for BAS glass.

Multiwavelength investigation of laser-damage performance in potassium dihydrogen phosphate after laser annealing

The laser-induced damage performance of potassium dihydrogen phosphate and deuterated potassium dihydrogen phosphate nonlinear optical crystals after pre-exposure to lower-energy laser pulses (laser annealing, also known as laser conditioning) is investigated as a function of wavelength for both the damaging and conditioning pulses. We obtain a quantitative evaluation of the bulk damage performance of these materials by measuring the density of damage events as a function of laser parameters. This new method allows for a detailed assessment of the improvement of material performance from laser conditioning and reveals the key parameters for optimizing performance depending on the operational wavelength.

System for evaluation of laser-induced damage performance of optical materials for large aperture lasers

The evaluation of optical components in various laser systems, with regard to their resistance to laser-induced damage, has often relied on measuring damage threshold fluences. For large-aperture laser systems a small amount of damage in optics does not impede performance. This necessitates the development of damage testing instrumentation that can directly provide information regarding beam obscuration. The number and size of damage scattering sites for a specific laser fluence, wavelength, and pulse duration determine overall beam losses due to damage. We present a design for rapid quantitative characterization of bulk damage performance of optical materials for use in large-aperture laser systems.