High-laser-induced-damage threshold polarizer coatings for 1054 nm
- 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; TRN: 98:009082
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 28. annual symposium on optical materials for high power lasers - Boulder damage symposium, Boulder, CO (United States), 7-9 Oct 1996; Other Information: PBD: [1997]; Related Information: Is Part Of Laser-induced damage in optical materials: 1996. Twenty-eighth annual Boulder damage symposium, proceedings; Bennett, H.E.; Guenther, A.H.; Kozlowski, M.R.; Newnam, B.E.; Soileau, M.J. [eds.]; PB: 686 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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