Locally Resolved Absorption Measurements On Laser Pulse Damaged Nacl At 10.6 Mu M

The samples were irradiated using single CO2 TEA laser pulses of increasing energy. After each irradiation the laterally resolved aborption was measured. All investigations were carried out both at normal pressure and in vacuum. We observed that a marked decrease in absorption occurs within an area which was larger than the irradiated area. Outside that area the absorption increases. These tendencies were observed on NaCl samples stored and irradiated both in vacuum and in dry air. Using humid air as ambience, however, the absorption increases also inside the irradiated area. The laser damage thresholds and the laterally resolved absorption of NaCl are discussed considering the parameters of investigation.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.