Breakdown of transparent media by a train of giant pulses from a YAG laser

An experimental investigation was made of the optical strength of K8, ZhS11, and TF8 glasses, and lithium niobate and tantalate crystals exposed to a train of nanosecond 1.06-μm laser pulses at various pulse repetition frequencies. The cumulative effect was not found in K8 glass for a pulse duration of 50 ns and a repetition frequency up to 20 kHz, nor in lithium niobate and tantalate crystals (20 ns and 2 kHz). Glass TF8 was studied at durations of 20 and 60 ns and at frequencies up to 20 kHz. The cumulative effect in ZhS11 glass (durations between 80 and 150ns and frequencies up to 50 kHz) was associated with the presence of CdS_xSe_1 – x semiconductor microcrystals.