More powerful and challenging laser systems are built to meet the need of evolving technology, reflecting demands coming from both industry and research areas. Laser damage is a key parameter for all components in such high-power laser system, establishing limits of maximum achievable energy in laser beam, and consequently the power of the system. As a value for all optical components, this is represented by laser induced damage threshold (LIDT). LIDT is a value determining highest quantity of laser radiation incident upon the optical component for which the extrapolated probability of damage is zero. In following paper is described testing station build and used at HiLASE centre to determine such value, which is necessary to build reliable and stable laser sources and produce high quality optics.

No abstract

Laser-Induced Deep Etching (LIDE) is considered as the one of the most promising techniques for production of so-called TGVs (Through Glass Vias). In the production process, thin glass sheet is treated with ultra-short lasers pulses to induce surface and volume modification, allowing efficient wet etching and formation of through hole. Precise knowledge of damage threshold of such glass is essential when optimizing the whole process and scaling up the production via laser beam parallelization. In following paper, we present recent results on LIDT measurement of D263 glass sheets at wavelengths 1030 nm and 515 nm, effective utilization of such knowledge for setting up multi-Bessel beam processing optics, and we demonstrate resulting substrates with TGVs.

No abstract

Laser surface processing is an established method to introduce surface functionalities on solid surfaces with the required throughputs for a commercial process. Fabrication of laser induced surface structures in an effective matter is done by laser interaction studies, which reveal the best processing parameters (laser wavelength, fluence, repetition, together with the processing speed and environment). Customized solutions are providing the best yields and they are being implemented faster than ever. However, the optics manufacturers are not being to keep up the pace with the new requirements, so they turn instead on older, but safer technology. In order to get a better understanding of optics capabilities, thorough testing is required. Common laser metallic mirrors, commercially available, are being rigorously tested using a nanosecond Yb:YAG laser and the results are compared with the vendor's information.