SEDL / STP / STP1028-EB / STP18564S

Quantification of the Magnitude and Duration of the Preconditioning Effect in AR Coated BK-7 Glass

Frink, ME
Hughes Aircraft Company Electro-Optical & Data Systems Group, El Segundo, California

Arenberg, JW
Hughes Aircraft Company Electro-Optical & Data Systems Group, El Segundo, California

Mordaunt, DW
Hughes Aircraft Company Electro-Optical & Data Systems Group, El Segundo, California

Seitel, SC
Hughes Aircraft Company Electro-Optical & Data Systems Group, El Segundo, California

Teppo, EA
Hughes Aircraft Company Electro-Optical & Data Systems Group, El Segundo, California

Pages: 9    Published: Jan 1988

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Abstract

This paper presents the difference observed in laser damage thresholds between a ramped preconditioned type test and an unconditioned test method. The enhancement of the laser induced damage threshold observed by the preconditioned test was found to be on the order of 40%. We investigated the amount of preconditioning required to induce the threshold enhancement as well as the duration of the preconditioning effect. Our studies demonstrate that the test procedure used to induce catastrophic coating damage on AR coated BK-7 glass is critical in defining the absolute laser induced damage threshold level. Furthermore, preliminary measurements indicate that the observed preconditioning enhancement is not a permanent effect.