3. Laser flux resistance metrology

Measuring flux withstand is a tricky business. To study physical phenomena or qualify components, laboratories or manufacturers may have their own definition of laser damage (depending, for example, on how it is detected or the intended application) and specific test conditions (beam size, pulse duration, etc.). What's more, damage thresholds are not specific to a given material, and are highly dependent on its manufacturing, storage and cleaning conditions, etc. As a result, intercomparison of results is often complex, if not impossible, and can be a source of confusion.

To characterize a component, a statistical measurement is generally required, due to the inhomogeneity of materials. The general principle of measuring the laser flux resistance of optical components is to expose the component to different energy or power levels, and then to detect whether or not...