Laser damage resistance of optical coatings in the sub-ps regime: limitations and improvement of damage threshold

L. Gallais

doi:10.1117/12.2231532

27 April 2016 Laser damage resistance of optical coatings in the sub-ps regime: limitations and improvement of damage threshold

L. Gallais

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9893, Laser Sources and Applications III; 989305 (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2231532
Event: SPIE Photonics Europe, 2016, Brussels, Belgium

Abstract

We introduce the topic of short-pulse laser damage in optical coatings in order to understand the intrinsic limitations depending on the application, and the possibility of laser damage resistance improvement. Firstly we describe the physical process of a high intensity femtosecond laser pulse interaction with an optical coating and how this interaction can lead to a damage of the film. Then we present the main facts about laser damage resistance of coatings that are relevant for applications and related to the previously described processes: the dependence of the Laser-Induced Damage Threshold (LIDT) of coating materials with bandgap, the decrease of LIDT with the pulse number, the wavelength and pulse duration dependence, etc... We also discuss on the question of the role of macroscopic defects on damage initiation in this regime and damage growth under multiple irradiation. Eventually different strategies to improve the laser damage resistance will be discussed: engineering of the electric field distribution in the stack, fabrication of mixture materials with enhanced LIDT, mitigation of defects.

Citation Download Citation

L. Gallais "Laser damage resistance of optical coatings in the sub-ps regime: limitations and improvement of damage threshold", Proc. SPIE 9893, Laser Sources and Applications III, 989305 (27 April 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2231532

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available