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The laser-induced damage (LID) response of multilayer dielectric gratings (MDGs) to transverse magnetic (TM) and transverse electric polarization was investigated based on polarized-independent MDGs. It was found that TM-polarized MDGs have the superiority of a high LID threshold, low sensitivity to laser excitation strength, low response to damaged structure, and reduced LID growth speed and dynamics. These results provide a strong motive to preferentially develop and mount TM-polarized MDGs in the next generation of high-intensity picosecond-petawatt laser systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal multi-layer dielectric gratings (MMDG) for pulse compressors in high-energy laser systems should provide broad bandwidth as well as high laser-induced damage thresholds. The non-uniform optical near-field distribution of MMDG is an important factor that limits damage resistant capabilities. MMDG for pulse compressors operating at 800 nm with a corrugated SiO layer are designed by using a genetic algorithm and the Fourier mode method. The diffraction efficiency, bandwidth, and near-field distribution of the MMDG are theoretically investigated. For the single dielectric match layer grating, the bandwidth is 140 nm, if the thickness and refractive index of the match layer are changed, the maximum electric field in the grating ridge, match layer, and metal layer of the grating increases with the decrease in grating diffraction efficiency. For the multi-dielectric match layer grating, the bandwidth and the maximum electric field in the metal layer decrease with the increase in high- and low-index material pairs, and the maximum electric field in the grating ridge and match layer initially decreases and then increases. Over a wide wavelength range, the maximum electric field in the grating ridge, match layer, and metal layer is minimal near the central wavelength. Moreover, MMDG should be used at larger incident angles while keeping enough bandwidth to reduce the electric field in the grating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that the location of guided-mode resonance (GMR) in grating waveguide structures closely tracks the leaky mode dispersion curves. In this paper, taking Bragg reflection due to periodicity and interaction between different modes into account, we first present a schematic diagram of the dispersion relations of leaky modes in multimode grating waveguide structures, both for s-polarized (TE mode) and p-polarized (TM mode) incident waves. Due to the perturbation of the grating layer, the interaction between different resonance modes (transverse standing waves) is inevitable. This transverse interference will result in the non-Bragg nature resonance band gaps in the dispersion curves. Exploiting the characteristics of leaky mode dispersions over the full range of the first Brillouin zone, we hoped we could gain some insight into the relationship among the mode interactions, band gaps, and their benefits to optical elements utilizing the GMR effect in grating waveguide structures. Finally, a specific structure is analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of the high power laser facilities, laser resistance of pulse compression grating is getting increased attention. The metal dielectric mixed grating (MDMG) is widely studied, because it has wide diffraction bandwidth, low surface stress and potential high threshold. The effect of nodular defect size on damage of MDMG is studied by experiments and theoretical analysis in two typical cases. The initial damages appear in the district of nodular defect due to local electric field enhancement induced by nodular defect, which is different with the initial damage located in grating pillar of the perfect MDMG. Laser induced ionization theory is introduced to describe the damage process and give a quantitative analysis on the relationship of laser damage and nodular defect size. It is concluded that local electric field enhancement in nodular defect area would cause the electron density to reach the critical value and lead to the damage occurrence, and nodule damage critical diameters are 1400 nm and 1500 nm respectively in case 1 (seed under the grating pillar) and case 2 (seed under the grating groove) which will lead to nodule damage initiation. • The initial damages appear in the district of nodular defect which is different with the initial damage of perfect MDMG. • The nodule damage reason is that electron density reaches to critical value owing to local electric field enhancement. • Nodule damage critical diameter are 1400nm and 1500nm in case 1 and case 2 (seed under grating pillar and grating groove). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Two measures were presented to improve the laser-induced damage resistance of the optical films used in vacuum environments. Firstly, the impact of a few O2, N2 and He2 introduced in vacuum on the laser-induced damage threshold of the dielectric mirror coatings were investigated. Then, laser conditioning effects in atmosphere environments on the laser-induced damage threshold of the dielectric mirror coatings used in vacuum environments were also investigated. It was found that a few O2, N2 introduced in vacuum can effectively improve the laser damage resistance of the optical films in vacuum environment due to the resistance to air-vacuum effect. However, a few He2 have no this effect on laser induced damage threshold (LIDT) of the films. In addition, laser conditioning in atmosphere can also effectively improve the LIDT of the optical thin films used in vacuum environment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In order to accurately calculate the femtosecond laser breakdown threshold of wide band-gap dielectrics using the photoionization and avalanche ionization theories, the applied range of these classical methods is demonstrated quantitatively by the comparison of the calculated results with the available experimental data. It is found that these standard theories to estimate laser ablation threshold are valid when the laser pulse duration is less than about 600fs and the laser wavelength is more than around 400nm. Besides, we demonstrate that the multi-photon ionization of wide band-gap dielectrics is the dominant breakdown mechanism when the laser wavelength is at the region of 0.4μm<λ<1.3μm. But the tunneling ionization mechanism performs a significant role when the laser wavelength is at the range of λ <1.3μm. Based on our calculation, we found that a valence band (VB) electron can absorb simultaneously the greatest number photons of ten in the multiphoton ionization process. Furthermore, it is revealed that the photoionization in dielectrics ionization process can provide seed electrons even at the pulse duration down to sub-10fs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The transmittance property and the near-field distribution of subwavelength broadband antireflective grating directly patterned into the wide bandgap dielectric material as a function of the surface period and groove depth are performed by a rigorous Fourier modal method. It is found that the transmittivity is insensitive for TE and TM polarization, but the near-field distribution associated with laser damage resistance ability is strongly dependent on polarization state of incident light. What''s more, the femtosecond pulse laser damage threshold of surface structure taking into account local maximum electric field enhancement was calculated numerically using a theoretical ionization mechanism model. The higher threshold on the surface period, pulse duration and incident wavelength for TM polarization than that for TE wave is demonstrated quantitatively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Used in chirped-pulse amplification system and based on multi-layer thin film stack, pulse compressor gratings (PCG) are etched by ion-beam and holographic techniques. Diffraction efficiency and laser-induced damage threshold rely on the structural parameters of gratings. On the other hand, they depend greatly on the design of multi-layer. A theoretic design is given for dielectric multi-layer, which is exposed at 413.1nm and used at 1053nm. The influences of coating design on optical characters are described in detail. The analysis shows that a coating stack of H3L (H2L)∧9H0.5L2.01H meets the specifications of PCG well. And there is good agreement of transmission between experimental and the theoretic design. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The effects of annealing on structure and laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) of Ta2O5/SiO2 dielectric mirrors were investigated. Ta2O5/SiO2 multilayer was prepared by ion beam sputtering (IBS), then annealed in air under the temperature from 100 to 400 °C. Microstructure of the samples was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Absorption of the multilayer was measured by surface thermal lensing (STL) technique. The laser-induced damage threshold was assessed using 1064 nm free pulsed laser at a pulse length of 220 μs.It was found that the center wavelength shifted to long wavelength gradually as the annealing temperature increased, and kept its non-crystalline structure even after annealing. The absorbance of the reflectors decreased after annealing. A remarkable increase of the laser-induced damage threshold was found when the annealing temperature was above 250 °C. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]