Abstract

Laser-induced optical damage upon wave-mixing is investigated in single crystals of lithium triborate. Surface and bulk damages appear after simultaneous exposure to intense infrared, green and ultraviolet pulsed laser light. The build-up of a light-induced refractive index lense during the process of sum-frequency generation ( = 1064 nm + = 532 nm =⇒ = 355 nm) is suggested and we discuss the role of multi-photon absorption processes for the appearance of the damage.

© 2005 Optical Society of America