Abstract

The limit of the damage threshold of optics is one of the most important factors, which affect the foundation of high power laser system. Under the actual level of technique, it is hardly to increase the laser system's loading capacity by improving the process technics or increasing the caliber. For some optics, laser conditioning is an effective way to improve their damage threshold. Related study show that the damage threshold of optics would improve to two times after laser conditioning. It is feasible that the damage threshold could be improved safely and the power density of the laser system could be stepped up by studying the mechanism and technology of laser conditioning systematically. Since the limit of coating technical, the laser conditioning mechanism must be understood and comprehended. So experiments in two aspects were done to find the changes of several sol-gel films and PVD films during laser conditioning. First, studied the infection which damage did to decide the effective size and appearance. Secondly, studied the stability of different damages under consecutive irradiation. At the same time, some factors that affect the conditioning effect were analysed in order to discuss the techniques and methods of laser conditioning scientifically.

© 2002 Optical Society of America