LASER DAMAGE RESISTANT OPTICAL COMPONENTS FOR ALKALI VAPOR LASER CELLS

摘要

A laser damage resistant optical component exposed to alkali vapor and intense (1 kW/cm²) light is formed by making the outermost surface of the component from a specified metal oxide or metal fluoride whose metal boils at a temperature lower than the melting temperature of that metal's oxide or fluoride, such as BaO, CdO, CaO, MgO, SrO, ZnO, CdF₂, MgF₂ or SrF₂. This allows the metal formed by the alkali's reduction of the metal compound to be vaporized and removed by the laser beam at a temperature that does not melt or deform the host compound or substrate. The alkali reduction of metal compounds, other than those listed above, leaves metals that are heated by the laser beam to a temperature above the melting point of the host compound and/or common substrates such as silica or alumina which can lead to their damage.