Damage measurements on optical materials for use in high-peak-power lasers

Recently, we have expanded our efforts to develop state-of-the-art optical compo- nents for use in large-scale, high-peak-power, solid state lasers. Laser-induced damage to many of these components sets critical constraints on construction costs and limits the peak powers attainable in current and proposed devices. Increasing the damage threshold when- ever possible by improving materials fabrication technology is therefore the ultimate goal of our work. The optical components and technological developments we are investigating are: