Laser damage thresholds at short wavelengths

A survey of single-pulse laser damage thresholds for a wide variety of commercially available film coatings and prepared surfaces is reported. Tests were conducted at 532, 355, and 248 nm. Pulses for the longer wavelengths, generated by harmonic conversion of 1064-nm light from a Nd:glass laser, had a duration of 0.7 nsec. The 248-nm pulses had a 20-nsec duration and were produced by a KrF laser.