Abstract

We have conjectured that photon-stimulated desorption of neutral atoms from optical surfaces may play a significant role in short-wavelength laser damage to optical materials.¹ We recently obtained the first experimental evidence for the occurrence of such processes at incident energies below the band-gap energies in lithium fluoride, thus establishing that avalanche ionization due to excitation of electrons into the conduction band is not necessary to initiate the damage process in alkali halides. Since the dominant products of photon-stimulated desorption in the alkali halides are known to be neutral atoms,² we used optical techniques, including laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy, to study the dynamics of the desorption process.³

© 1986 Optical Society of America