A novel method has been developed for measuring surface absorption of optical coatings used in high power laser systems. Advantages of the method, which uses an infrared thermal camera to measure surface temperature and a detailed computer model of heat loss mechanisms to calculate surface absorption, include real time, non-contact measurement and in situ monitoring of optics under operational conditions. Surface absorptions ranging as low as 10-5 of the incident laser power can be measured with a 50 W test beam. The technique is used routinely to easily and quickly acquire data for coating performance sensitivity testing, coating development and for quality assessment of purchased optics. More importantly, it can identify hot absorbing coatings that are likely to fail in service or to become optically distorted in an operating laser system.

Date Published: 23 June 1986
PDF: 5 pages
Proc. SPIE 0622, High Power and Solid State Lasers, (23 June 1986); doi: 10.1117/12.961185

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 0622:
High Power and Solid State Lasers
William W. Simmons, Editor(s)