Abstract
The high fluence performance of high-power laser systems is set by optical damage, especially in the final optics assembly (FOA). The flaws on the frequency converter surface can cause optical intensity intensification and, therefore, damage the downstream optical elements, such as the beam sampling grating (BSG), which is an important component in the FOA. Mitigation of BSG damage caused by flaws is discussed. Physical models are established to simulate the optical field enhancement on BSG modulated by the upstream flaw, considering both the linear and nonlinear propagation effects. Numerical calculations suggest that it is important to place the BSG in a properly selected position to mitigate the laser-induced damage. Furthermore, strict controls of flaw size, modulation depth, distance between frequency converter and focusing lens, and the thickness of the focusing lens are also significant to mitigate the BSG damage. The results obtained could also give some suggestions for damage mitigation of optical components and the layout design of the final optics assembly.
