Appearance of opacity and damage of optical materials by carbon dioxide laser pulses

The thresholds of the appearance of opacity and damage in the bulk and on the surface of some materials used in the infrared range were determined. A laser cleaning effect was observed for materials whose surface optical strength exceeded the breakdown threshold of air near the surface. This made it possible to raise the opacity threshold to the bulk damage threshold. The opacity threshold of such a cleaned surface fell as a result of adsorption of contaminants from air.