A new method for increasing the laser damage threshold of metal mirrors

In order to increase the damage threshold of metal mirrors we propose to create a special structure on the surface of the mirrors (“photonic surface”). This structure must have the period about λ/2 and will suppress propagation of surface plasmons with the frequency ω₀=2πc/λ along the surface. This structure will also slightly increase the heat removal from the mirror’s surface by the excitation of the thermostimulated plasmon emission from the surface. The heat removal from the surface is estimated and possible implementation of this approach for use with CO₂-lasers (λ=10.6 μm) and Nd-YAG-lasers (λ=1.06 μm) is analyzed.