Abstract

Interferometric measurements have been made of the optical distortions induced in laser disk amplifiers during the flashlamp pumping pulse. Both conventional interferometric methods and the techniques of double exposure holographic interferometry were used to identify four major sources of pump-induced optical distortions: subsonic intrusion of hot gas (traced to leakage of atmospheric oxygen into the amplifier), microexplosions of dust particles, thermally induced optical distortions in the glass disks, and gaseous optical distortion effects caused by turbulent flow of the purging nitrogen gas supply used within the laser amplifier head. Methods for reducing or eliminating the effects of each of these optical distortions are described.

© 1975 Optical Society of America

Pulsed HF Laser Holographic Interferometry

Richard Kristal
Appl. Opt. 14(3) 628-633 (1975)

Optics in Switzerland

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Laser Induced Damage in Optical Materials: 6th ASTM Symposium

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