Optical breakdown of fluoride crystals by KrF laser radiation with λ = 248 nm

The thresholds of bulk damage of commercially available ultraviolet-transparent MgF₂, CaF₂, and LiF crystals were determined for λ = 248 nm KrF laser radiation incident in the form of pulses of 70 ns duration. The dependences of the damage thresholds of these crystals on the focal spot diameter were obtained for this diameter from 8 to 1600 μm.