ABSTRACT
Laser-induced damage may occur at the faces of the optical component, at interfaces between components or in the bulk of the component. The spatial distribution may vary from a perfect Gaussian or a semi- Gaussian through some complicated mode structure to a random intensity profile. The spatial distribution of the power also deviates from the optimum for many laser systems. High energy density, particularly when contained in short pulse durations, leads to high peak power in the beam, to high power densities incident and transmitted through optical components and to appreciable amounts of energy being absorbed in a short time in those optical materials and components. For repetitive short-pulse, long-pulse and continuous wave laser beams the choice of failure mode is between cracking and melting. Absorption of energy may give rise to a rise in temperature, leading to thermal expansion, strain, distortion, birefringence, movement of internal defects, cracking, melting, and catastrophic shattering.
