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Laser-Induced Damage Phenomena in Optics
Chapter 1
1. Laser-Induced Damage
Phenomena in Optics
A Historical Overview
M.J. Soileau
1.1 Introduction: The First Laser-Induced Damage
On May 21, 1960, Ted Maiman demonstrated the rst laser [1]. e elegantly simple device
consisted of a helium ash lamp designed for photography and a metal cylindrical sleeve
to help direct the light from the lamp to a ruby rod, the laser gain medium. e laser reso-
nator was simply the ruby rod with silver coatings on both ends, with one coating thin
enough to allow particle transmission to couple out the energy generated and stored in the
resonator.
Laser-induced da ...