Morphological asymmetry in laser damage of transparent dielectric surfaces

Abstract

The morphological difference between entrance and exit surface damage is examined in terms of Fresnel reflections at the interface of the dielectric and the plasma associated with damage. It is suggested that the standing wave formed at the exit surface by the incident wave and the wave reflected from the plasma-dielectric interface is responsible for the characteristic pits of exit surface damage, while entrance damage characteristics are due to thermal shock from the hot plasma contiguous to the surface.