Ultraviolet fatigue testing of laser optics

Abstract

Laser users desire optics that not only have a high laser induced damage threshold (LIDT), but also perform consistently over time. In fact, some aerospace and military applications can require long lifetime optics for remote environments where replacement is untenable. UV laser optics are susceptible to slow performance degradation with exposure to sub- Laser Induced Damage Threshold UV laser light due to the process of UV fatigue. Although UV fatigue of optics is well documented, the mechanisms are not well understood. Design and construction of a UV lifetime testbed to investigate the mechanisms of UV fatigue, preliminary results, and future directions are presented.