Effect of laser pulse repetition frequency on the optical breakdown threshold of quartz glass

Journal Article · Sat Aug 31 04:00:00 EDT 2013 · Quantum Electronics (Woodbury, N.Y.)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1070/QE2013V043N08ABEH015142· OSTI ID:22303386

Konov, V I ^[1]; Schöneseiffen, S; Dausinger, F ^[2]

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1. Natural Science Center, A.M. Prokhorov General Physics Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow (Russian Federation)
2. Dausinger + Giesen GmbH, Rotebühlstr. 87, D- 70178 Stuttgart (Germany)

The thresholds of optical breakdown in the volume of quartz glass were measured in relation to the number of pulses under irradiation by ultrashort laser pulses with different pulse repetition frequencies (1 – 400 kHz). Increasing this frequency from 10 to 400 kHz was found to substantially lower the breakdown threshold for 500-fs long pulses (at a wavelength of 1030 nm) and to lower to a smaller degree for 5-ps long pulses (515 nm). A strong frequency dependence of the breakdown threshold is observed under the same conditions as a manifold decrease of the breakdown threshold with increase in the number of pulses in a pulse train. The dependence of the optical breakdown on the number of pulses is attributable to the accumulation of point defects under multiple subthreshold irradiation, which affects the mechanism of collisional ionisation. In this case, the frequency dependence of the breakdown threshold of quartz glass is determined by the engagement of shortlived defects in the ionisation mechanism. (interaction of laser radiation with matter)

• OSTI ID: 22303386
• Journal Information: Quantum Electronics (Woodbury, N.Y.), Journal Name: Quantum Electronics (Woodbury, N.Y.) Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 43; ISSN 1063-7818
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
BREAKDOWN
FREQUENCY DEPENDENCE
GLASS
IRRADIATION
KHZ RANGE 100-1000
LASER RADIATION
LASERS
POINT DEFECTS
PULSES
QUARTZ