Nonlinear absorption in ultraviolet window materials

Recent advances in high-brightness UV lasers have generated interest in the nonlinear optical properties of UV window materials. Such high-brightness laser systems, based on the amplification of picosecond or subpicosecond pulses in excimer laser media, are routinely delivering peak optical powers of 10-50 GW to a 1-2-cm2 output window with as much as 100 GW/cm2 expected in future systems. For further significant increases in output peak power, wider-aperture (50-100-cm2) amplifiers are essential. Such large apertures require relatively thick output windows. Therefore, understanding nonlinear optical phenomena at intensities of 1010-1011 W/cm2 in UV window materials is essential for the design of such amplifiers. Such nonlinear effects may ultimately limit the achievable peak power from high-brightness systems in the UV