Laser-Induced Damage in Optical Materials

This book provides the most complete and authoritative overview of the laser damage field, covering damage in the bulk as well as on the surface and coating of optical components. Its treatment spans from fundamental mechanisms and techniques to damage in optical materials and thin films. It discusses state-of-the-art measurement approaches for evaluating laser damage thresholds in the context of international standards and scaling laws. It also covers high-power laser coatings, modeling approaches, laser heating phenomena in different optical materials, and effects of contamination.