Molecular contamination damage prevention: lessons learned from vacuum laser operation

John S. Canham

doi:10.1117/12.634333

7 February 2006 Molecular contamination damage prevention: lessons learned from vacuum laser operation

John S. Canham

Proceedings Volume 5991, Laser-Induced Damage in Optical Materials: 2005; 59910E (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.634333
Event: Boulder Damage Symposium XXXVII: Annual Symposium on Optical Materials for High Power Lasers, 2005, Boulder, CO, United States

Abstract

Molecular contamination in laser systems presents a significant risk to laser operation. The principle reason for molecular contamination being a significant risk is the lack of knowledge concerning the interactions of the contaminants, optics, laser radiation, and intra-laser environment. A long term instrumented vacuum operation test was carried out to investigate the potential contamination effects in a laser. The test provided information concerning the behavior of the laser operation of a two wavelength 532 and 1064nm q-switched Nd:YAG, the behavior of the residual contamination and residual gases in the vacuum environment. The interactions of the contaminants and the residual gases in the system in the presence of laser radiation are discussed.

Citation Download Citation

John S. Canham "Molecular contamination damage prevention: lessons learned from vacuum laser operation", Proc. SPIE 5991, Laser-Induced Damage in Optical Materials: 2005, 59910E (7 February 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.634333

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