Effect of water impurity in CsLiB_6O_10 crystals on bulk laser-induced damage threshold and transmittance in the ultraviolet region

We investigate the effect of water impurity in a CsLiB6O10 (CLBO) crystal on the ultraviolet properties of the bulk laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) and transmittance. The water impurity was eliminated by heating the CLBO sample with dimensions of 5 mm x 5 mm x 10 nun at 150 degrees C in an ambient atmosphere and subsequently in a dry atmosphere. The bulk LIDT of the sample after heat treatment improved by about 1.6-fold compared with that before heat treatment. (C) 2009 Optical Society of America