SEDL / STP / STP911-EB / STP29006S

The Effects of Self-Focusing on Laser-Induced Breakdown

Williams, WE
North Texas State University, Denton, Texas

Soileau, MJ
North Texas State University, Denton, Texas

Van Stryland, EW
North Texas State University, Denton, Texas

Pages: 9    Published: Jan 1985

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Abstract

The polarization dependence of laser-induced breakdown and beam distortions in the transmitted time integrated spatial profile were used to determine the effects of self focusing on picosecond breakdown threshold measurements in fused silica and NaCl. The results at 1.06 and 0.53 μm laser wavelength indicate that, for focused geometries, no significant self-focusing occurs in these materials until the beam power approaches P², the second critical power for self-focusing.