Influence of short-wavelength absorption on internal damage threshold of crystals subjected to CO2 laser pulses

A correlation was found between the threshold of internal damage to NaCl, KCl, and KRS-6 crystals by CO₂ laser pulses and the transmission of these crystals near the short-wavelength edge of the transparency region. This correlation could be used as a method for nondestructive determination of the optical strength of materials suitable for high-power infrared lasers.