Transparent polymers: a new class of optical materials for lasers

An analysis is made of the possibility of using transparent polymer materials to fabricate various optical components of lasers, including active elements containing lasing dyes, bleachable filters for Q-switching, etc. A comprehensive study is reported of the processes of laser damage to a wide class of transparent polymers, which have made it possible to determine the laser damage mechanism. The mechanism of nucleation of microdamage initiated by absorbing defects is dominated by the molecular characteristics of modifying additives present in polymers. The growth of microdamage to macroscopic dimensions is influenced greatly by the viscoelastic properties of the polymer matrix. These ideas about the mechanism of laser damage of transparent polymer materials are used in suggesting ways of increasing their optical (laser) strength, which—when implemented—can ensure that the optical strength of polymers becomes comparable with that of crystals or glasses.