Laser induced damage studies in newly developed laser glasses

The entrance and exit surface damage has been observed in newly developed Neodymium doped phosphate laser glasses viz. Potassium Barium Aluminium Phosphate (KBAP), Lanthanum Potassium Barium Aluminium Phosphate (LKBAP), Yttrium Aluminium. Phosphate (YAP) under Q switched Nd: YAG laser irradiation at 1.06 mu m wavelength near normal incidence. The YAP glass is suitable for low repetition rate system such as range finders while KBAP and LKBAP find applications for high repetition rate systems which are used in material processing and electro-optic counter measures. The difference between the entrance and exit surface damage thresholds has been explained using electromagnetic effects. The comparison of the morphological features of the KBAP and LKBAP suggest the role of metallic inclusion in the samples whereas in the case of YAP sample, the damage is governed by the intrinsic physical properties of this glass.