Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC

University of California

Paul J Wegner

Manyalibo Joseph Matthews

Jeffrey Devin Bude

Gabriel Mark Guss

John J Adams

Michael C Nostrand

Masoud Bolourchi

Jeffery A Jarboe

Lloyd A Hackel

Lawrence W Hrubesh

Bernardino M Penetrante

Alan K Burnham

Raymond M Brusasco

Mark Kozlowski

Michael D Feit

The present disclosure relates to a system for repairing a damage site on a surface of an optical material. The system may have an Infrared (IR) laser which generates a laser beam having a predetermined wavelength, with a predetermined beam power, and such that the laser beam is focused to a predetermined full width ('F/W') 1/ediameter spot on the damage site. The IR laser may be controlled to maintain the focused IR laser beam on the damage site for a predetermined exposure period corresponding to a predetermined acceptable level of downstream intensification. The laser beam may heat the damage site to a predetermined peak temperature which causes melting and reflowing of material at the damage site to create a mitigated site.

System and method for laser-based, non-evaporative repair of damage sites in the surfaces of fused silica optics

A method for repairing a damage site on a surface of an optical material is disclosed. The method may involve focusing an Infrared (IR) laser beam having a predetermined wavelength, with a predetermined beam power, to a predetermined full width ('F/W') 1/ediameter spot on the damage site. The focused IR laser beam is maintained on the damage site for a predetermined exposure period corresponding to a predetermined acceptable level of downstream intensification. The focused IR laser beam heats the damage site to a predetermined peak temperature, which melts and reflows material at the damage site of the optical material to create a mitigated site.

The present invention provides a system that mitigates the growth of surface damage in an optic. Damage to the optic is minimally initiated. In an embodiment of the invention, damage sites in the optic are initiated, located, and then treated to stop the growth of the damage sites. The step of initiating damage sites in the optic includes a scan of the optic using a laser to initiate defects. The exact positions of the initiated sites are identified. A mitigation process is performed that locally or globally removes the cause of subsequent growth of the damaged sites.

Method for producing damage resistant optics

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Livermore, CA, United States of America

Paul J Wegner