Dual wavelength laser-induced damage threshold measurements of alumina/silica and hafnia/silica ultraviolet antireflective coatings.

An approach for the measurement of the laser-induced damage threshold with two wavelengths combined was made while testing antireflective coatings for the wavelengths 266 and 532 nm. Samples were made of Al2O3/SiO2 and HfO2/SiO2 ion beam sputtered films. The results show that adding radiation of a second wavelength might lead to a significant reduction of the threshold. The damage morphology of single and dual wavelength tests is very similar and does not suggest an altered damage mechanism. Further investigations indicated that the dual wavelength threshold is a function of the temporal delay of the two pulses.