title: Bulk and surface laser damage of silica by picosecond and nanosecond pulses at 1064 nm.
abstract: We measured bulk and surface dielectric breakdown thresholds of pure silica for 14 ps and 8 ns pulses of 1064 nm light. The thresholds are sharp and reproducible. For the 8 ns pulses the bulk threshold irradiance is 4.75 +/- 0.25 kW/microm2. The threshold is approximately three times higher for 14 ps pulses. For 8 ns pulses the input surface damage threshold can be made equal to the bulk threshold by applying an alumina or silica surface polish.
authors.affiliation: Department 1128, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185-1423, USA. arlee.smith@as-photonics.com
authors.forename: Arlee V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Binh T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Do