EXPLORATORY DEVELOPMENT OF FUSION CAST CALCIUM FLUORIDE FOR 1.06 MICROMETER PULSED LASER OPTICS

摘要

This program is an assessment of fusion cast polyerystalline calcium fluoride for optical components of 1.064 micrometer pulsed laser fusion sys¬tems. Task areas include casting of essentially stress-free 33 centimeter diameter, 5 centimeter thick ingots, developing surface finishing techniques for optically figured plane and spherical surfaces, and evaluating state-of-the-art antireflection coatings deposited onto specimens of the cast material.nDuring the third quarter, three casting runs were completed in the large casting furnace, none of which was wholly successful. A decision to limit the remainder of the casting effort to six-inch (15-centimeter) diameter pieces was made. Two chemically homogeneous castings of CaF7/ Nd were made in a second furnace.