All laser components can withstand a limited intensity of optical radiation and the measurement of laser-induced damage thresholds (LIDT) is required. In the case of repetitive pulses the LIDT measurements should be performed according ISO 11254-2 standard. This procedure is time consuming and puts a high requirement on human resources. In order to speed up the LIDT measurements with a minimal human resource we developed the automated station for LIDT measurements according ISO-11254-2 standard. In this paper we overview the main parts of this automated station and present the results of LIDT measurements with repetitive pulses. In order to control the LIDT measurements, software based on LabView programming package was created. The LIDT software controls experimental sample positioning in X and Y directions, laser pulse energy attenuation and shutter. It also automates damage detection and performs statistical analysis. The program recognizes damage by detecting scattered light from damaged surface. The input of sample and laser beam technical parameters is required to start the measurements. The minimal distance between test sites on the sample surface is calculated automatically, and the surface area is divided in to a hexagonal matrix. The program also chooses the laser pulse train energy for each test site. The program also allows fast damage inspection by translating the sample under the Nomarski microscope. After completion of measurement and damage inspection, the program automatically generates the measurement report.
For high intensity lasers it is very important to choose appropriate optical elements. Since invention of high power lasers laser-induced damage of optical coatings was subject of extensive investigations. At high laser intensities the self-focusing in optical elements appears and intensity at rear optics surface can be much higher than at the front surface. Due to this damage of rear-surface can be reached much faster than damage of the front surface. We investigated the influence of self-focusing on damage threshold in fused-silica windows with anti-reflective coatings on both sides. In our experiments we used titanium-sapphire chirped pulse amplification system (130 fs, 2 mJ, 1 kHz repetition rate pulses at 800 nm). We have tested 1 mm, 3 mm and 6 mm thickness fused-silica windows with identical anti-reflective coatings. The front surface of the samples was placed in the waist of focused beam. The experiments were performed for effective spot diameters on the front 145 μm, 95 μm and 43 μm respectively. The experiments showed the self-focusing of beam inside the fused silica window and self-focusing dependence on initial beam diameter. The damage behavior was dependent on irradiation history. Also we found quite strong nonlinear absorption in fused silica.
High density, improved adhesion and environmental stability are the main features of dielectric optical coatings produced using ion-assisted deposition (IAD) technology. However, investigations of resistance of IAD coatings to intensive laser radiation show controversial results. A series of experiments were done to examine the influence of ion gun operation on the transmittance of fused silica substrates. It was shown that operation of ion source introduced extinction in UV spectral range. Optical properties of single hafnia layers and multilayer dielectric mirrors deposited using conventional e-beam evaporation and different modes of IAD were investigated. Microstructural analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements and AFM scanning of coated areas was carried out. Single hafnia layers deposited using high energy ion assistance had more amorphous structure with smaller crystallites of monoclinic phase. High reflection UV mirrors deposited using high energy ion assistance had slightly higher mean refractive indices of hafnia, higher extinction than conventional e-beam deposition, but demonstrated slightly higher laser induced damage threshold (LIDT) values measured at 355 nm. Deposition using the lowest energy ions produced the most porous coatings with the best LIDT of 7.7 J/cm2.
The ion assisted thin film deposition (IAD) method has been used extensively for more than two decades, but questions about possibility of improving of the laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) by this method compared with the conventional electron-beam evaporation (non-IAD) method are still not fully answered. A more complete understanding of different factors that can influence laser-induced damage threshold is necessary for continued development of multilayer dielectric coatings optimized for high-power laser applications. To clarify these factors we performed comparison of LIDT for IAD and non-IAD coatings in nanosecond and femtosecond pulse ranges. High reflectance mirrors at 800 nm and 532 nm were tested. Mirror coatings were made of ZrO2 and SiO2. Automated LIDT measurements were performed according to the requirements of current ISO 11254-2 standard. Two lasers were used for the measurements: Nd:YAG (λ = 532 nm, τ = 5 ns) and Ti:Sapphire (λ = 800 nm, τ = 130 fs). Measurements at 800 nm and 532 nm were performed at 1-kHz and 10 Hz pulse repetition rate respectively (S-on-1 test). The damage morphology of coatings was characterized by Nomarski microscopy and relation of LIDT with coating parameters was analyzed.
A comparison of laser induced damage thresholds (LIDT) of ion assisted deposition (IAD) and standard electron beam deposition dielectric coatings on BK7 glass with different surface roughness was performed. Five types of high reflectance mirrors at 800 nm and two types of high reflectance mirrors at 1064 nm were tested. Mirror coatings were made of ZrO2 and SiO2. Automated LIDT measurements were performed according to the requirements of current ISO 11254-2 standard. Two lasers were used for the measurements: Nd:YAG (l = 1064 nm, t = 13 ns) and Ti:Sapphire (l = 800 nm, t = 130 fs ). All measurements were performed at 1-kHz pulse repetition rate (S-on-1 test). A fixed spot size was used for each laser. For 1064 nm it was ~ 70 um and for 800 nm ~ 500 um. The damage morphology and structure of coatings were characterized by an atomic force microscopy (AFM), Nomarski microscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD).
For the development of standard measurement procedures in optics characterization, comparative measurement campaigns (Round-robin experiments) are indispensable. Within the framework of the CHOCLAB project in the mid-90s, several international Round-robins were
successfully performed qualifying procedures for e. g. 1 on 1-LIDT, laser-calorimetry and total scattering. During the recent years, the demand for single pulse damage investigations has been overtaken by the more practically relevant S on 1-LIDT. In contrast to the
industrial needs, the comparability of the multiple-pulse LIDT has not been proven by Round-robin experiments up to now. As a consequence of the current research activities on the interaction of ultra-short pulses with matter as well as industrial applications, numerous fs-laser systems become available in universities and research institutes. Furthermore, special problems for damage testing may be expected because of the intrinsic effects connected with the interaction of ultrashort pulses with optical materials. Therefore, a Round-robin experiment on S on 1-damage testing
utilizing fs-pulses was conducted within the framework of the EUREKA-project CHOCLAB II. For this experiment, seven parties investigated different types of mirrors and windows. Most of the partners were guided by the International Standard ISO 11254-2, but one partner employed his own damage testing technique. In this presentation, the results of this comparative experiment are compiled demonstrating the problems induced by special effects of damage testing in the ultra-short pulse regime.
We report on the development and use of coherent spectrophotometers specialized for the unusual requirements of characterizing nonlinear optical materials and multilayer dielectric coatings used in laser systems. A large dynamic range is required to measure the linear properties of transmission, reflection and absorption and nonlinear properties of laser-induced damage threshold and nonlinear frequency conversion. Optical parametric oscillators generate coherent radiation that is widely tunable with instantaneous powers that can range from milliwatts to megawatts and are well matched to this application. As particular example a laser spectrophotometer based on optical parametric oscillators and a diode-pumped, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser and suitable for optical characterization in the spectral range 420-4500 nm is described. Measurements include reflectance and transmittance, absorption, scattering and laser-induced damage thresholds. Possibilities of a system based on a 130-fs Ti:sapphire laser and optical parametric generators are also discussed.
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