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Laser-Induced Damage in Optical Materials
9.3.1.2 Defects and Mechanisms
Laser-induced damage in wide bandgap optical materials is the result of material mod-
ications arising from extreme conditions occurring during this process. e material
absorbs energy from the laser pulse and produces an ionized region that gives rise to
broadband emission. Damage initiation from nanosecond pulses arises from defects
located in nominally transparent material absorbing sucient energy to produce an
opaque plasma. e nature of such absorbers and the mechanism(s) by which they pro-
duce a plasma may vary among dierent materials. e appearance of surface ...