SEDL / STP / STP689-EB / STP39105S

The Development of Fluorides for High Power Laser Optics

Ready, JF
Honeywell Corporate Material Sciences Center, Bloomington, Minnesota

Vora, H
Honeywell Corporate Material Sciences Center, Bloomington, Minnesota

Skogman, RA
Honeywell Corporate Material Sciences Center, Bloomington, Minnesota

Leung, KM
Honeywell Corporate Material Sciences Center, Bloomington, Minnesota

Bernal, GE
Honeywell Corporate Material Sciences Center, Bloomington, Minnesota

Pages: 6    Published: Jan 1979

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Abstract

The development of improved optical materials with low nonlinear refractive index and good vacuum ultraviolet transparency is needed for future laser systems to heat fusion targets. This program has produced lithium fluoride windows through isostatic forging of single crystalline material. For reductions around 60%, forging yields fine-grained material with considerably increased yield strength and fracture energy. The ultraviolet transparency of the material is not degraded by the forging.

This paper will describe the improvement of yield strength and fracture energy as a function of forging parameters. It will discuss measurements of optical homogeneity, optical scattering and visible and ultraviolet transmission for both the original material and the forged material.