Patent ID: 7271911

Claim:
Procedure for quantitative measurement of pulse laser stability of synthetic fused silica by a direct absorption measurement whereby suitability of the synthetic fused silica for use as an optical material exposed to laser pulses is determined, comprising: measuring the absorption of the fused silica for different light energy densities; determining a non-linear function α 1 (H) from said measuring of the absorption of the fused silica for different light energy densities; irradiating the fused silica with a light energy density until reaching a constant absorption value; measuring the absorption of the fused silica for different light energy densities; determining a non-linear function α 2 (H) from the measuring of the absorption of the fused silica for the last said different light energy densities; and determining an energy density dependent absorption increase from the difference of non-linear functions α 2 (H) and α 1 (H).