SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 October 1981
STP37006S

A New Photographic Technique for Observing Bulk Laser Damage

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A damage site camera was developed to record the onset of bulk laser damage in materials. The camera images and magnifies the damage track using forward-scattered laser light. Employing this camera we can detect the presence of very small (<10 μm) damage sites with densities as low as 10/cc. The camera is used at oblique incidence.

We have observed discrete damage sites generated within the bulk of some materials, such as silicate glass, fluorophosphate glass, and KDP crystals, by 1-ns, 1064-nm laser pulses. The energy fluxes at which bulk damage is initiated are in the range of 2 to 20 J/cm2, much lower than the fluxes required to cause damage by intrinsic processes. Small foreign inclusions (<1 μm diameter) are the cause of these low bulk damage thresholds. The inclusion density varies from 107/cc to less than 10/cc. At threshold the damaged volumes are small (1–5 μm in diameter) and thus, can be observed most easily by their forward-scattered light.

Several photographs are shown to illustrate the onset of bulk laser damage in fluorophosphate glass and KDP crystals.

Author Information

Thomas, N
Sonderman, J
Stokowski, S
Wallerstein, P
Walmer, D
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Details
Developed by Committee: F01
Pages: 159–169
DOI: 10.1520/STP37006S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-4820-8
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-4500-9