High-laser-induced-damage threshold polarizer coatings for 1054 nm

Conference · Mon Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:552274

Smith, D J; Anzellotti, J F; Papernov, S; Chrzan, Z R ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States)

Polarizer coatings developed for the OMEGA laser are performing well without sustaining any significant damage. Similar polarizers developed for the National Ignition Facility (NIF) have exceptionally high damage thresholds when tested with a 1-ns pulse at 1054 nm. Polarizers for OMEGA were originally developed using Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5}/SiO{sub 2} multilayers. All final polarizers before the frequency conversion cell were made using this method. A new coating was developed for a polarizing beamsplitter with more stringent optical and laser-damage requirements. The new coating used a HfO{sub 2}/SiO{sub 2} system with the hafnia formed by reactive evaporation from a hafnium metal melt. The new process provided better film control, lower defect counts, better stress control, and higher damage thresholds. Beamsplitter coatings made from both processes were installed in the OMEGA Laser. After 1.5 years of operation the Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5}/SiO{sub 2} beamsplitters are developing signs of damage on OMEGA while the HfO{sub 2}/SiO{sub 2} coatings show no damage. The HfO{sub 2}/SiO{sub 2} process was also used to develop polarizer coatings for the NIF.

• Research Organization: International Society for Optical Engineering, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: FC03-92SF19460
• OSTI ID: 552274
• Report Number(s): CONF-961070--Vol.2966
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
66 PHYSICS
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
DAMAGE
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
LASER RADIATION
OMEGA FACILITY
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
POLARIZATION
SILICA
SURFACE COATING
TANTALUM OXIDES
THERMONUCLEAR REACTOR MATERIALS