Brewster Angle Polarizing Beamsplitter Laser Damage Competition: P polarization

Christopher J. Stolz; Jeff Runkel

doi:10.1117/12.981735

4 December 2012 Brewster Angle Polarizing Beamsplitter Laser Damage Competition: P polarization

Christopher J. Stolz, Jeff Runkel

Proceedings Volume 8530, Laser-Induced Damage in Optical Materials: 2012; 85300M (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.981735
Event: SPIE Laser Damage, 2012, Boulder, Colorado, United States

Abstract

Brewster angle plate polarizing beamsplitters play a critical role in splitting and combining beams within high power laser systems. A laser damage competition of polarizer beamsplitter coatings creates the opportunity to survey the current laser resistance these coatings within private industry, governmental institutions, and universities by a direct comparison of samples tested under identical conditions. The requirements of the coatings are a minimum transmission of 95% at “P” polarization and minimum reflection of 99% at “S” polarization at 1064 nm and 56.4 degrees angle of incidence. The choice of coating materials, design, and deposition method were left to the participant. Laser damage testing was performed according to the ISO 11254 standard utilizing a 1064 nm wavelength laser with a 10 ns pulse length operating at a repetition rate of 20 Hz. A double blind test assured sample and submitter anonymity so only a summary of the results are presented. In addition to the laser resistance results, details of cleaning methods, deposition processes, coating materials and layer count, and spectral results are also shared. Because of the large number of samples that were submitted, damage testing was conducted at “P” polarization only with “S” polarization damage testing reserved for next year on these submitted samples. Also the samples were only tested in the forward propagating direction; specifically samples were irradiated from air as the incident medium, through the thin film, and then through the substrate. In summary, a 6:1 difference existed for “P” polarization damage fluences amongst all of the competitors with the dominate variables that impacted the laser resistance being the deposition materials, deposition process, and cleaning method.

Citation Download Citation

Christopher J. Stolz and Jeff Runkel "Brewster Angle Polarizing Beamsplitter Laser Damage Competition: P polarization", Proc. SPIE 8530, Laser-Induced Damage in Optical Materials: 2012, 85300M (4 December 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.981735

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available