Laser-induced damage threshold is the main limitation for fused silica optics in high-power laser applications. The existence of various defects near the surface is the key factor for the degradation of the threshold. In this work, the photoluminescence spectra at different regions of the damaged and recovered fused silica samples are recorded to analyze the correlation between photoluminescence of surface defects and laser-induced damage threshold. The experimental data concluded the inverse proportional correlation between fluorescence and laser-induced damage threshold value. The weak photoluminescence is the guarantee of the high laser-induced damage threshold, and then the higher local Si nanocluster concentration corresponds with the higher laser-induced damage threshold value for the fused silica optics after CO2 laser treatment. The investigation reveals that photoluminescence measurement can be employed to check the quality of pristine fused silica and evaluate the tendency of the laser-induced damage threshold value. The current results are helpful for understanding the evolution of interaction from CO2 laser treatment and fused silica optics and can provide the guide of process technology for the high quality of fused silica optics.

中文翻译：

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熔融石英表面缺陷光致发光特性与激光损伤阈值的相关性

激光诱导损伤阈值是熔融石英光学器件在高功率激光应用中的主要限制。表面附近各种缺陷的存在是阈值退化的关键因素。在这项工作中，记录了受损和恢复的熔融石英样品不同区域的光致发光光谱，以分析表面缺陷的光致发光与激光诱导损伤阈值之间的相关性。实验数据总结了荧光与激光损伤阈值之间的反比关系。微弱的光致发光是高激光损伤阈值的保证，因此较高的局部Si纳米团簇浓度对应于CO2激光处理后熔融石英光学器件的较高激光损伤阈值。研究表明，光致发光测量可用于检查原始熔融石英的质量并评估激光损伤阈值的趋势。目前的研究结果有助于理解 CO2 激光处理与熔融石英光学器件相互作用的演变过程，并为高质量熔融石英光学器件的工艺技术提供指导。