1 Introduction 1

2 Experimental Method

2.1 Experimental prerequisites

     2.1.1 Optical setup overview

     2.1.2 Determination of fluence at the camera

     2.1.3 Focus of the camera

2.2 Testing methodology

2.3 Adaptation for a continuous wave

3 Data Analysis

3.1 Basic presentation

3.2 Pixel counting

3.3 Probit fits

4 Summary

Preface

This Spotlight is intended for experimentalists learning how to perform laser damage measurements on cameras. The importance of understanding the laser-induced damage threshold of a camera and how it can define protection measures is discussed. A guide to the experimental methodology and testing considerations to measure the damage threshold of an off-the-shelf visible-band charge-coupled device (CCD) camera to a pulsed laser under laboratory conditions is presented. This same methodology can be applied to other 2-D detector arrays, and the steps to adjust the experimental process to perform continuous-wave laser damage threshold measurements are described. Finally, data analysis techniques relevant to this type of experiment are addressed.

Christopher Westgate
January 2019