Optical Distortion Of Rugate Coated Optical Components Used In High Power Laser Systems

This paper will describe a first order analytical technique for evaluating the Strehl ratio of a system composed of various optical components which use rugate optical thin films. The basic elements of the model are to provide budgeting criteria that will permit the maximum energy in the central lobe of a far field distribution. Budgeting components will consist of figure error on the component, thermal distortion for transient and steady-state, pressure ripple for cooled substrates, and energy loss due to scatter and absorption in the coatings and the substrate.