Abstract

In recent years, alkaline-earth fluoride materials have been developed for use as high performance optical components in lasers operating in the spectral range from 2 μm to 5 μm (for example, HF and DF lasers). However, as in the cases of high power Nd glass and CO₂ lasers, damage to optical components due to extremely high optical fluxes has proved a severe system limitation. Suitable 2–5-μm optical materials for damage resistant optics have not yet been evaluated systematically using a well-controlled laser source in this spectral region. In this paper we will discuss the properties of candidate optical materials for high-power 2–5-μm laser systems and present experimental data on damage resistance for the best obtainable samples. This information describing the laser–light-material interaction will provide electrooptical system engineers with data essential to the design of reliable high-power 2–5-μm lasers.

© 1976 Optical Society of America