SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1988
STP24402S

Laser Damage on Zinc Selenide and Cadmium Telluride Using the Stanford Mark III Infrared Free Electron Laser

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We have encountered intracavity optical damage, and have estimated fluence damage thresholds, in samples of CVD zinc selenide which have been used as intracavity Brewster plate output couplers for the Stanford Mark III infrared free electron laser. For spot radii of approximately 1.4 mm and wavelengths in the range of 3 μn to 4 μm, we have determined damage thresholds ranging from 8.2 J/cm2 to 11.3 J/cm2 for optical macropulses of 2 μs duration and 15 Hz repetition rate, with corresponding circulating micropulse intensities on the order of 5 GW/cm2; in most cases catastrophic damage seemed to occur due to the coalescence of tiny pits in the surface. We also report on damage threshold measurements for uncoated cadmium telluride at 3.2 μm, and observe a fluence dependent damage threshold of approximately 6.3 J/cm2 for macropulses scaled (via τ1/2) to a 1 μs duration. Finally, we observe a lowering of the damage threshold of uncoated CdTe in the presence of the laser harmonics, presumably due to free carrier absorption of the fundamental.

Author Information

Benson, SV
Szarmes, EB
Hooper, BA
Laser Institute, Veterans Administration and University of Utah Medical Centers, Salt Lake City, Utah
Dottery, EL
United States Military Academy, West Point, NY
Madey, JMJ
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Details
Developed by Committee: F01
Pages: 41–49
DOI: 10.1520/STP24402S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5033-1
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-4481-1