Laser-Induced Damage Properties of Optical Materials

Dear Colleagues,

Optical materials (such as fused silica, single crystal silicon, and KDP crystal) of laser systems can be damaged by laser radiation of sufficiently high power or energy. Damage behavior generally arises from the localized coupling of laser energy into material, leading to sufficiently rapid heating to induce a permanent material breakdown. Over the past dozen years, the laser-induced damage properties of optical materials have been extensively studied. With fused silica, for example, numerous efforts have been made to increase the surface damage threshold of the optics operating at UV wavelengths. These efforts include improvements of material quality and finishing technology, together with the use of improved methodologies for detecting, diagnosing, and eliminating near-surface defects that can be introduced during the grinding and polishing of optics. Various mechanisms that can facilitate the damage initiation process have been demonstrated. The main mechanisms include: (1) pre-existing absorbing defect structures, (2) pre-existing atomic defects or creation as a result of material–laser interaction, (3) micro-/nanoscale particle contamination, and (4) organic contamination from the environment or the manufacturing process. Continual improvement of damage resistance and deep understanding of damage mechanisms of optical materials are still required for better applications. The purpose of the Topic is to exchange recent progress in laser-induced damage properties of optical materials for high-power or high-energy lasers, including laser-induced damage mechanisms, materials and film preparation, durability, properties modeling, testing, and component fabrication.

Dr. Laixi Sun
Dr. Yafei Lian
Dr. Jin Huang
Dr. Hongjie Liu
Topic Editors