Microscopic characterization of laser-induced damage performance of large-size KDP and DKDP nonlinear crystals

Paul DeMange; Christopher Wren Carr; Harry B. Radousky; Stavros G. Demos

doi:10.1117/12.531330

14 June 2004 Microscopic characterization of laser-induced damage performance of large-size KDP and DKDP nonlinear crystals

Paul DeMange, Christopher Wren Carr, Harry B. Radousky, Stavros G. Demos

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 5337, Nonlinear Frequency Generation and Conversion: Materials, Devices, and Applications III; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.531330
Event: Lasers and Applications in Science and Engineering, 2004, San Jose, Ca, United States

Abstract

KDP and DKDP are unique materials for frequency conversion in large-aperture laser systems. Under high power irradiation, a threshold exists above which multiple damage sites are formed in the bulk of crystal plates thus obstructing beam propagation and creating undesirable beam modulations. Damage testing has focused on measuring the irradiation threshold fluences that lead to irreversible material modifications. However, small amounts of damage in optical components have been determined not to hinder system performance in large-aperture laser systems. In this work, we present a new approach to evaluating damage performance that provides statistics on damage pinpoint density, size and morphology as a function of fluence, wavelength and pulse duration and relates that to the resulting beam obscuration. We measure the size of damage sites for different wavelengths, pulse-lengths, and fluences. Different pulse-lengths are approximated by using multiple pulses appropriately delayed with respect to each other. We find that in KDP/DKDP crystals, the size of damage sites strongly depend on the pulse-length, with longer pulses creating larger damage sites. Also examined are ways of laser-annealing to increase the damage resistance.

Citation Download Citation

Paul DeMange, Christopher Wren Carr, Harry B. Radousky, and Stavros G. Demos "Microscopic characterization of laser-induced damage performance of large-size KDP and DKDP nonlinear crystals", Proc. SPIE 5337, Nonlinear Frequency Generation and Conversion: Materials, Devices, and Applications III, (14 June 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.531330

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