On the cooperativeness of nanosecond-laser induced damage during frequency doubling of 1064 nm light in KTiOPO4

Due to its high nonlinear coefficients, KTP (KTiOPO4) is one of the most important nonlinear optical materials for frequency doubling of Nd:YAG lasers. Former studies suggest a certain cooperativeness of the laser induced damage mechanism between the 1064 nm and the 532 nm wavelengths present during second harmonic generation. We report on experiments that allow confirming and quantifying the cooperativeness of the laser damage mechanism in this material and compare it to known data from KDP. A damage scenario based on the formation of color centers, which are also responsible for the gray tracking effect, will be presented.

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