Abstract

Target debris has long been an a problem when using low f-number optics for laser micro-machining applications or high energy laser target interactions. A debris shield can be used to protect the final focusing optics from damage. For long pulse, ns scale lasers, one can use debris shields in the order of cm thickness without aquireing too much nonlinear phase on transmission. Short pulse laser beams on the other hand are focused with a parabola in a vacuum environment to mitigate self-focusing, filamentation, self-phase modulation and other nonlinear interactions. As such, significantly thinner (sub mm) debris shields are required for fs applications.

© 2009 IEEE