Laser-Induced Damage in Optical Materials

This article gives an overview of laser-induced damage in optical materials. The laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) is defined and methods to measure it are discussed. The laser-materials processes that lead to permanent material changes are described, especially those in dielectric materials used in the most demanding applications because of their low absorption and high LIDT. A distinction is made between the intrinsic material properties, which determines the fundamental limits, and extrinsic defects, which often determine the LIDT and lead to stochastic behavior.