Grazing incidence absorption measurements. Final report

Technical Report · Mon Jul 31 04:00:00 EDT 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10189411· OSTI ID:10189411

This final report summarizes the results of a series of different measurements to characterize various mirrors of interest to Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Boeing Aerospace free electron laser program. Most of the measurements were of the glancing incidence characteristics of different overcoated silver mirrors. These included the absolute absorptance as a function of angle of incidence (0--88{degrees}), laser wavelength (0.5145 and 1.06 {mu}m), polarization, and exposure to room air. The latter measurement examined the ability of the overcoated silver mirrors to resist tarnishing. Overcoating materials used were single-layer ThF{sub 4} and MgF{sub 2}, a very thin layer of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, and diamond. As a result of the work performed during this program, significant progress has been made to find a better alternative to bare silver mirrors for high-power laser applications. Thick dielectric overcoats do protect the silver mirrors from tarnishing, but problems associated with accurately controlling the optical constants of the dielectric during the coating process appear to make it difficult to achieve the desired optical properties of the mirrors at high angles of incidence.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States); Spectra Technology, Inc., Bellevue, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: Department of Defense, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 10189411
• Report Number(s): LA-SUB--93-292; ON: DE94001472
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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OPTICAL PROPERTIES
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