Influence of water adsorption processes on the optical strength of dielectric titanium dioxide coatings

An investigation of the temperature dependence of the optical strength of TiO₂ coatings in atmospheres consisting of various gases demonstrated that the water adsorption processes had a decisive influence on the optical strength of TiO₂ at λ = 1.06 µ. A model of laser damage was proposed to explain not only the results obtained, but also some of the known features of the damage of coatings by laser radiation.