As a consequence of advancements in inertial confinement fusion research, LLNL is developing plans for a new 1.5 to 2 mega-joule solid-state Nd:glass laser designed to achieve fusion ignition. The new design is possible in part due to advances in optical coatings suitable for high-power laser systems. High damage threshold mirrors and polarizers are comprised of electron-beam deposited dielectric multilayers. Subthreshold illumination, or laser conditioning, of the multilayer coatings results in an increase in the damage thresholds by factors of 2 to 3 at 1.06 micrometers , thus meeting the fluence requirements of the advanced architecture. For anti-reflective coatings, protective organic coatings for non-linear crystals and phase plates for beam smoothing, sol-gel films provide high damage thresholds coatings at low cost.

Date Published: 4 March 1993
PDF: 15 pages
Proc. SPIE 1782, Thin Films for Optical Systems, (4 March 1993); doi: 10.1117/12.141024

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 1782:
Thin Films for Optical Systems
Karl H. Guenther, Editor(s)