Effect of native defects and laser-induced defects on multi-shot laser-induced damage in multilayer mirrors

The roles of laser-induced defects and native defects in multilayer mirrors under multi-shot irradiation condition are investigated. The HfO 2 /SiO 2 dielectric mirrors are deposited by electron beam evaporation(EBE) . Laser damage testing is carried out on both the 1-on-1 and S-on-1 regimes using 355-nm pulsed laser at a duration of 8 ns. It is found that the single-shot laser-induced damage threshold(LIDT) is much higher than the multi-shot LIDT. In the multi-shot mode,the main factor influencing LIDT is the accumulation of irreversible laser-induced defects and native defects. The surface morphologies of the samples are observed by optical microscopy. Moreover,the number of laser-induced defects affects the damage probability of the samples. A correlative model based on critical conduction band(CB) electron density(ED) is presented to simulate the multi-shot damage behavior.     

Damage on HfO2/SiO2 high-reflecting coatings under single and multiple Nd:YAG laser pulse irradiation

The single- and multi-shot damage behaviors of HfO2/SiO2 high-reflecting (HR) coatings under Nd:YAG laser exposure were investigated. Fundamental aspects of multi-shot laser damage, such as the instability due to pulse-to-pulse accumulation of absorption defect and structural defect effect, and the mechanism of laser induced defect generation, are considered. It was found in multi-shot damage, the main factors influencing laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) are accumulation of irreversible changes of structural defects and thermal stress that induced by thermal density fluctuations.     

Accumulation effect of SiO_2 protective layer on multi-shot laser-induced damage in high-reflectivity HfO_2/SiO_2 coatings

The accumulation effects in high-reflectivity(HR) HfO2/SiO2 coatings under laser irradiation are investigated.The HR HfO2/SiO2 coatings are prepared by electron beam evaporation at 1 064 nm.The laser-induced damage threshold(LIDT) are measured at 1 064 nm and at a pulse duration of 12 ns,in 1-on-1 and S-on-1 modes.Multi-shot LIDT is lower than single-shot LIDT.The laser-induced and native defects play an important role in the multi-shot mode.A correlative theory model based on critical conduction band electron density is constructed to elucidate the experimental phenomena.     

渐变折射率Ta_2O_5/SiO_2薄膜多脉冲激光损伤特性

采用离子束溅射(IBS)的方式,制备了1064nm高反射Ta2O5/SiO2渐变折射率光学薄膜。对其光学性能和在基频多脉冲下抗损伤性能进行了分析。通过渐变折射率的设计方式,很好地抑制了边带波纹,增加了1064nm反射率。通过对损伤阈值的分析发现,随着脉冲个数的增加,损伤阈值下降明显;但是在20个脉冲数后,损伤阈值(维持在22J/cm2左右)几乎保持不变直到100个脉冲数。通过Leica显微镜对损伤形貌的观察,发现损伤诱因是薄膜表面的节瘤缺陷。通过扫描电镜(SEM)以及聚集离子束(FIB)对薄膜表面以及断面的观察,证实了薄膜的损伤起源于薄膜表面的节瘤缺陷。进一步研究得出,渐变折射率薄膜在基频光单脉冲下损伤主要是由初始节瘤缺陷引起的,在后续多脉冲激光辐照下初始节瘤缺陷引起烧蚀坑的面积扩大扫过薄膜上的其他节瘤缺陷,引起了其他节瘤缺陷的喷射使损伤加剧,造成损伤的"累积效应"。     

Impact of organic contamination in vacuum on laser-induced damage threshold of TiO2/SiO2 dielectric mirrors

The influence of organic contamination in vacuum on the laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) of coatings is studied. TiO2/SiO2 dielectric mirrors with high reflection at 1064 nm are deposited by the electronbeam evaporation method and their LIDTs are measured in vacuum and atmosphere, respectively.It is found that the contamination in vacuum is easily attracted to optical surfaces because of the low pressure and becomes the source of damage, O2 molecules in vacuum with contamination can accelerate the laser-induced damage by observing LIDT and damage morphologies. LIDTs of mirrors have a little change in vacuum compared with in atmosphere when the organic contamination is wiped off. The results indicate that organic contamination is a significant reason to decrease the LIDT in vacuum.     

Influences of SiO2 protective layers and annealing on the laser-induced damage threshold of Ta2O5 films

Ta2O5 films are prepared on BK7 substrates with conventional electron beam evaporation deposition.The effects of SiO2 protective layers and annealing on the laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) of the films are investigated.The results show that SiO2 protective layers exert little influence on the electric field intensity(EFI)distribution,microstructure and microdefect density but increase the absorption slightly.Annealing iS effective on decreasing the microdefect density and the absorption of the films.Both SiO2 protective layers and annealing are beneficial to the damage resistance of the films and the latter is more effective to improve the LIDT.Moreover,the maximal LIDT of Ta2O5 films is achieved by the combination of SiO2 protective layers and annealing.     

Comparison of laser-induced damage in Ta2O5 and Nb2O5 single-layer films and high reflectors

Ta2O5 and Nb2O5 films are deposited on BK7 glass substrates using an electron beam evaporation method and are annealed at 673 K in the air.In this letter,comparative studies of the optical transmittance,microstructure,chemical composition,optical absorption,and laser-induced damage threshold(LIDT) of the two films are conducted.Findings indicate that the substoichiometric defect is very harmful to the laser damage resistance of Ta2O5 and Nb2O5 films.The decrease of absorption improves the LIDT in films deposited by the same material.However,although the absorption of the Ta2O5 single layer is less than that of the Nb2O5 single layer,the LIDT of the former is lower than that of the latter.High-reflective(HR) coatings have a higher LIDT than single layers due to the thermal dissipation of the SiO2 layers and the decreased electric field intensity(EFI).In addition,the Nb2O5 HR coating achieves the highest LIDT at 25.6 J/cm 2 in both single layers and HR coatings.     

SiO2内保护层对LiB3O5晶体倍频增透膜损伤阈值的影响

 利用离子辅助电子束沉积方法在LiB₃O₅基底上镀制了不加SiO₂内保护层和加SiO₂内保护层的倍频增透膜，测量了两类薄膜在波长1 064 nm多脉冲辐照下的激光损伤阈值，获得了两种不同的损伤形貌，并对损伤原因作了初步探讨。实验结果表明：保护层的加入把由基底膜层界面缺陷吸收所决定的阈值改变到由HfO₂膜层内缺陷吸收所决定的阈值，显著提高了倍频增透膜的抗激光损伤能力。     

Effect of Process Parameters on Laser Damage Threshold of TiO2 Coatings

We investigate the laser damage behaviour of an electron-beam-deposited TiO2 monolayer at different process parameters. The optical properties, chemical composition, surface defects, absorption and laser-induced damage threshold （LIDT） of films are measured. It is found that TiO2 films with the minimum absorption and the highest LIDT can be fabricated using a TiO2 starting material after annealing. LIDT is mainly related to absorption and is influenced by the non-stoichiometric defects for TiO2 films. Surface defects show no evident effects on LIDT in this experiment.     

氧分压对ZrO2薄膜激光损伤阈值的影响

 在不同的氧分压下用电子束热蒸发的方法制备了ZrO₂薄膜。分别通过X射线衍射、光学光谱、热透镜技术、抗激光辐照等测试，对所制备样品的微结构、折射率、吸收率及激光损伤阈值进行了测量。实验结果表明，薄膜中晶粒主要是四方相为主的多晶结构，并且随着氧分压的增加，结晶度、折射率以及弱吸收均逐渐降低。薄膜的激光损伤阈值开始随着氧分压增加从18.5J/cm²逐渐增加，氧分压为9×10^-3Pa时达到最大，值为26.7 J/cm²，氧分压再增加时则又降低到17.5 J/cm²。由此可见，氧分压引起的薄膜微结构变化是ZrO₂薄膜激光损伤阈值变化的主要原因。     

Influence of overcoat on laser-induced damage threshold of 532 and 800 nm TiO2/SiO2 high reflectors

TiO₂/SiO₂ high reflectors with and without a SiO₂ overcoat are deposited by electron-beam evaporation. The film properties are characterized by visible spectrometry measures, structure analysis, roughness and laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) tests, surface defects and damage morphology observation. The effects of overcoats on LIDT at 532 nm, 8 ns and 800 nm, 220 ps laser pulses are investigated. The relations between film structure, roughness, surface defects, electric field and LIDT are discussed. It is found that overcoats can increase the LIDT at these two laser wavelengths. The reduction of peak temperature, the low defects density and roughness, the low intrinsic absorption of SiO₂ and its amorphous structure are the main reasons for LIDT improvement by overcoats.     

Comparison of TiO2 and ZrO2 Films Deposited by Electron-Beam Evaporation and by Sol-Gel Process

TiO2 and ZrO2 films are deposited by electron-beam （EB） evaporation and by sol-gel process. The film properties are characterized by visible and Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry, x-ray diffraction analysis, surface roughness measure, absorption and laser-induced damage threshold （LIDT） test. It is found that the sol-gel films have lower refractive index, packing density and roughness than EB deposited films due to their amorphous structure and high OH group concentration in the film. The high LIDT of sol-gel films is mainly due to their amorphous and porous structure, and low absorption. LIDT of EB deposited film is considerably affected by defects in the film, and LIDT of sol-gel deposited film is mainly effected by residual organic impurities and solvent trapped in the film.     

Postprocessing treatments to improve the laser damage resistance of fused silica optical surfaces and SiO2 coatings

The combination of deep wet etching and a magneto-rheological finishing(MRF) process is investigated to simultaneously improve laser damage resistance of a fused-silica surface at 355 nm. The subsequently deposited SiO2 coatings are researched to clarify the impact of substrate finishing technology on the coatings. It is revealed that a deep removal proceeding from the single side or double side had a significant impact on the laser-induced damage threshold(LIDT) of the fused silica, especially for the rear surface. After the deep etching, the MRF process that followed does not actually increase the LIDT, but it does ameliorate the surface qualities without additional LIDT degradation. The combination guarantee both the integrity of the surface’s finish and the laser damage resistance of the fused silica and subsequent SiO2 coatings.     

The effect of porosity on the laser induced damage threshold of TiO2 and ZrO2 single layer films

Monolayer ZrO₂ and TiO₂ films were prepared on BK7 glass by physical vapor deposition (PVD) and were subsequently annealed for 1 h at 300 °C. By using the transmission spectra of two samples and the envelope method, the refractive index dispersion and extinction coefficients have been calculated. Laser induced damage threshold (LIDT) measurement shows that despite slight differences between the extinction coefficients of the two samples, the LIDT parameter of the ZrO₂ film is greater than that of the TiO₂ film. This fact leads us to consider thermal conductivity as an important parameter for interpreting the LIDT difference. According to our theoretical analysis, as a consequence of increase in the number of thermal barriers along poorer film, its thermal conductivity, and hence LIDT, decreased, which is in agreement with our experimental results. The measured porosity of the two samples shows higher porosity for TiO₂ single layer, which is in agreement with atomic force (AFM) images. The gradual and smooth damage morphology of ZrO₂ observed in optical images implies higher thermal conductivity than TiO₂.     

CO2激光局域辐照对熔石英损伤特性的影响

研究了CO₂激光局域辐照对熔石英损伤特性的影响, 发现当辐照中心温度较低时(1139 K), 辐照对损伤阈值没有明显影响, 但辐照中心温度较高时(1638 K), 辐照对损伤阈值有明显的影响, 损伤阈值随距离辐照中心间距的增大而减小, 在残余应力产生光程差最大处附近, 损伤阈值降到最小, 随着与辐照中心间距的进一步增加, 损伤阈值略有上升. 对导致此现象的原因做了分析. 由于残余应力的存在, 在辐照中心发生再损伤产生的裂纹后, 裂纹先沿径向扩展, 在残余应力产生光程差最大处附近, 裂纹转而向切向扩展, 这可能与径向和环向张应力随半径的变化有关. 在采用热处理炉退火消除残余应力时, 必须注意元件的洁净处理, 否则退火会出现析晶现象, 对损伤阈值和透射率造成不良影响. 关键词： 2激光局域辐照')" href="#">CO₂激光局域辐照 熔石英 损伤特性     

高功率激光诱导光学元件损伤阈值测量的不确定度分析

 激光诱导损伤阈值作为一实验参量,对其结果作不确定度分析有利于激光工作者在某个精度范围内获知该参量的信息。从激光损伤和损伤阈值定义出发,分析了基于ISO11254的损伤几率测试法测试激光诱导损伤阈值的不确定度来源,包括激光能量测量、激光光斑有效面积测量、各能量密度处损伤几率的计算以及对损伤几率点进行直线拟合这4个方面。并利用统计学原理和线性拟合等理论对这4个方面引起的不确定度分量及最终测试结果的相对合成不确定度进行了计算。以1 064 nm高反薄膜样品为例,分析表明：损伤几率点的计算和几率图中损伤几率的直线拟合是损伤阈值测试结果不确定度的主要来源,当样品的损伤阈值为7.79 J/cm²时,这两种因素引起的相对不确定度可分别在4%和18%左右,损伤阈值的相对合成不确定度达18.72%。     

缺陷对HfO2薄膜的激光弱吸收与损伤阈值的影响

激光弱吸收是导致光学薄膜损伤的重要原因。在(5~43)mPa的氧分压下制备并测试了一组HfO2薄膜。实验发现,当氧分压小于20mPa时,薄膜弱吸收越大,损伤阈值越低;当氧分压大于20mPa时,薄膜的损伤阈值与弱吸收并不一一对应,具有较高弱吸收的薄膜可能同时具有较高的损伤阈值。建立了缺陷模型,采用有限元法模拟了缺陷对弱吸收测量和损伤阈值测量的影响,分析了缺陷尺寸、密度、吸收系数对弱吸收和损伤阈值的影响。研究结果显示,吸收系数高于薄膜1 000倍的缺陷可以降低薄膜的损伤阈值1 000倍,却并不影响薄膜的弱吸收。缺陷对HfO2薄膜的激光弱吸收与损伤阈值测试有完全不同的影响,是导致某些薄膜弱吸收与损伤阈值背离的原因。     

SiO2/HfO2高反射膜的研制

主要讨论了电子束蒸发SiO2/HfO2薄膜的面形控制和损伤性能。研究了电子束蒸发工艺参数对薄膜应力以及面形的影响;分析了制备工艺对薄膜吸收、节瘤缺陷密度的影响,测量了制备薄膜的损伤阈值。研究结果表明:调整SiO2蒸发时的氧分压可以有效地将薄膜的应力控制在-250~-50 MPa。同时采用金属Hf蒸发可以显著地将节瘤缺陷密度从12.6 mm-2降低至2.7 mm-2,同时将损伤阈值从30 J/cm2提高至55 J/cm2。     

Study on the laser-induced damage threshold of sol-gel ZO_2-PVP coatings

<正>In order to improve the laser-induced damage threshold(LIDT) of the ZrO_2 film,the effect of polyvinyl pyrrolidone(PVP) with different average molecular weight on coatings is studied.The ZrO_2 sol is prepared by the hydrolysis of zirconium n-propoxide with acetylacetone as the chelating agent.The PVP(K16-18) is more suitable to obtain high LIDT coatings than other PVPs.The LIDT of the ZrO_2-PVP coatings is improved with the increase of the PVP(K16-18) content.When the PVP(K16-18) content is 2.4 wt.-%, the LIDT of the ZrO_2-PVP coatings is 43.5 J/cm~2(1064 nm,12 ns).The ZrO_2 sol and ZrO_2-PVP(K16- 18) sol have the good stability in 3 months.The refractive indices of the ZrO_2-PVP coatings decrease with the increase of the PVP(K16-18) content.     

Effects of annealing on laser-induced damage threshold of TiO2/SiO2 high reflectors

The mechanism of improving 1064 nm, 12 ns laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) of TiO₂/SiO₂ high reflectors (HR) prepared by electronic beam evaporation from 5.1 to 13.1 J/cm² by thermal annealing is discussed. Through optical properties, structure and chemical composition analysis, it is found that the reduced atomic non-stoichiometric defects are the main reason of absorption decrease and LIDT rise after annealing. A remarkable increase of LIDT is found at 300 °C annealing. The refractive index and film inhomogeneity rise, physical thickness decrease, and film stress changes from compress stress to tensile stress due to the structure change during annealing.