Optical glasses for high-peak-power laser applications

Conference · Fri Jul 31 04:00:00 EDT 1992

OSTI ID:7252465

Campbell, J H; Rainer, F

Only a limited number of optical glasses are commercially available that can be used in high-fluence laser applications between 0.35 and 1.05 {mu}m. These include primarily certain phosphate glasses and fused silica. Phosphate glasses can now be made free of Pt-inclusions; the technology leading to this improvement is briefly discussed. In addition, inclusion-free fused silica can be made by a high temperature, chemical-vapor-deposition (CVD) process. Measured damage thresholds over a range of wavelengths and pulse lengths are reported for these materials. In addition, the use of doped layers of plasma CVD fused silica as a means of making high damage-threshold rugate filters is presented. The impact of a high nonlinear refractive index (n{sub 2}) on the spatial profile of the laser beam is discussed. Dramatic improvements in laser performance are possible if an inclusion-free, low-n{sub 2} glass (such as fluorophosphate) could be made. Multiphoton absorption and solarization of fused silica at 351 nm are also reviewed; fused silica continues to be the preferred material for high fluence applications at this wavelength.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 7252465
• Report Number(s): UCRL-JC-109255; CONF-920792--31; ON: DE92040403
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360202 -- Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories-- Structure & Phase Studies
360204 -- Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories-- Physical Properties
42 ENGINEERING
426002* -- Engineering-- Lasers & Masers-- (1990-)
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL COATING
CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION
DEFECTS
DEPOSITION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
GLASS
INFRARED RADIATION
LASER MATERIALS
LENSES
LIGHT TRANSMISSION
MATERIALS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
OPTICAL SYSTEMS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHATE GLASS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATIONS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
SURFACE COATING