Abstract

Recent advances in high power lasers operating in the visible and ultraviolet, such as the free electron laser (FEL) and the high power excimer laser, have shown that optical thin film coatings require further study and improvement in order to optimize these laser systems. In addition to the problem of laser induced damage in thin films, reflective and window coatings for a visible or ultraviolet laser system must exhibit dramatic improvements in reflectivity, scatter levels, surface figure, homogeneity, and optical absorption losses. Optical materials as well as polishing and thin film coating techniques must be improved and new technologies exploited.

© 1984 Optical Society of America