SEDL / STP / STP1015-EB / STP18732S

Laser-Induced Damage in Doped and Undoped Fluorozirconate Glass

Mansour, N
Center for Applied Quantum Electronics Department of Physics North Texas State University, Denton, Texas

Guha, S
Center for Applied Quantum Electronics Department of Physics North Texas State University, Denton, Texas

Soileau, MJ
Center for Applied Quantum Electronics Department of Physics North Texas State University, Denton, Texas

Bendow, B
Center for Applied Quantum Electronics Department of Physics North Texas State University, Denton, Texas

Martin, D
Center for Applied Quantum Electronics Department of Physics North Texas State University, Denton, Texas

Pages: 12    Published: Jan 1988

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Abstract

Results of laser-induced damage studies in doped and undoped fluorozirconate (FZ) glass in the system of ZrF⁴-BaF²-LaF³-AlF³ are reported. Measurements were made at 1.06 and 0.53 μm for pulsewidths of 45 psec and 20 nsec (FWHM), respectively. The breakdown thresholds are significantly reduced for material doped with Cr, Mn, Ni, and Nd. The decrease in breakdown thresholds at the fundamental wavelength (λ) for the doped material was found to be roughly proportional to the linear absorption of the specimen at the second harmonic (λ/2). This suggests that two-photon absorption (2PA) is instrumental in initiating damage in the doped specimens.