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Large area laser conditioning of dielectric thin film mirrors

Conference ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1520/STP26505S· OSTI ID:6799697
The laser conditioning of dielectric thin film HR coatings has been studied as a practical method for the improvement of the damage thresholds of large area (1.1 m dia.) high power 1064 nm laser mirrors on the LLNL 120kJ, 100TW Nova laser system. Both HfO{sub 2}/SiO{sub 2} and /ZrO{sub 2}/SiO{sub 2}HR coatings were conditioned by rastering with a small ({approximately}0.2 mm) diameter beam from a pulsed (18 Hz, 8 ns) Nd-YAG laser (1064 nm). The samples were rastered at various fluences below the unconditioned damage threshold and subsequently damage tested. Large area conditioning studies were also performed using a large aperture beam of the Nova laser. The laser conditioning effect was found to be permanent. Improvements in damage threshold due to conditioning were as high as a factor of 2.7 and were dependent on the conditioning parameters. A model for the conditioning effect is proposed based on emptying of electronic defect levels within. 36 refs., 9 figs.
Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE/DP
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
6799697
Report Number(s):
UCRL-101643; CONF-8911192--4; ON: DE90013485
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English