Model for nanosecond laser induced damage in potassium titanyl phosphate crystals

A model for nanosecond laser induced damage in the bulk of potassium titanyl phosphate nonlinear optical crystals is presented. In a first step, laser-induced damage precursors are produced by multiphoton absorption. In a second step, the damage precursors are activated. Damage occurs if the precursor activation rate exceeds a critical value. Basic considerations allow evaluating the parameters of the model. The validity of the model is discussed by comparing it to several experimental observations, in particular, the decrease of the laser damage threshold during second harmonic generation of 1064 nm pulses.

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