SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1983
STP37283S

The Use of Self-Focusing in the Prevention of Laser-Induced Damage

Source

Laser-induced breakdown in thin foils and gasses have been used to limit transmission at high laser powers in order to prevent damage to sensitive optical components in complex laser systems. In this paper we report results of using self-focusing in liquids to produce laser-induced breakdown and phase aberrations which in turn limit the transmitted power. Optical self-action in CS2 and other liquids was used to make a power limiting device with psec response time. This device has linear response near unity transmission for input power below PC, which is of the order of the critical power for self-focusing, and limits the transmitted power to a nearly constant value for input power greater than PC. The onset of nonlinear transmission was adjusted by mixing various liquids to adjust n2. Experimental results using linearly and circularly polarized, 40 psec (FWHM) pulses at 1.06 μm are presented.

Author Information

Soileau, MJ
Williams, WE
Van Stryland, EW
Brown, SF
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Details
Developed by Committee: F01
Pages: 557–567
DOI: 10.1520/STP37283S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-4865-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0708-3