Laser Damage FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Any temporary or permanent change of an optical element caused by exposure to intense laser radiation. The most common type of laser damage is physical deterioration at coated optical surfaces (e.g. pitting, erosion, melting, or delamination). Fracture and discoloration of the bulk optical material are also often encountered. Subtle modifications of refractive index or other bulk optical properties may be considered damage in sensitive applications.
Laser damage can degrade or completely destroy the performance of high power laser systems. This can be avoided by using optics with sufficiently high damage thresholds.