PHYSICS AND MATHEMATICS

Modeling of thermomechanical processes in a high-power CO$_2$-laser output window

M. V. Rogozhin^a, V. E. Rogalin^bc, M. I. Krymskii<sup>ba

a</sup> Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University)
^b Open joint stock company «National Center of Laser Systems and Complexes «Astrophysica»
^c Tver State University

Abstract: A mathematical model of thermal and mechanical processes in an output window of a high-power continuous gas laser is developed and applied to a cw CO$_2$ – laser. A laser-induced damage threshold dependence from beam diameter, thermal stress distribution and optical path distortion are obtained for ZnSe, KCl and polycrystalline diamond windows.

Keywords: CVD-diamond, CO2-laser, output window, thermal conductivity, laser-induced damage threshold, thermal lensing.