Comparison of laser‐induced surface and bulk damage

Data are presented which show that the optical field required to produce damage on a conventionally polished surface of a transparent medium is less than that required to damage an imperfection‐free surface. Electric field enhancement at imperfections can explain this result. In addition, the bulk damage field at 1.06 μm is reported for three materials and is found to be the same as the surface damage field on imperfection‐free surfaces.