Role of absorbing defects in laser damage to transparent polymers

Investigations were made of laser damage to transparent polymers using a typical example of this classmdash;polymethylmethacrylate. A study was made of the damage threshold as a function of the degree of purity of the initial monomers, radiation frequency, dimensions of illuminated zone, and laser pulse duration. The threshold statistics, damage morphology, and cumulative effect were also investigated. This set of experimental investigations made it possible to draw well-founded conclusions on the role of absorbing defects in laser damage.