Laser induced damage studies of LiNbO3 using 1030-nm, ultrashort pulses at 10-1000 kHz

R-on-1 laser induced breakdown thresholds are reported for a wide range of lithium niobate crystals at laser parameters relevant for state-of-the-art optical parametric amplifiers pumped with high repetition rate ultrafast Yb-laser sources. The samples included uncoated and anti-reflection coated, blank and periodically poled MgO-doped congruent crystals and were measured at repetition rates between 10 and 1000 kHz, pulse durations of 330 fs and 1 ps, and temperatures between 20 and 170 degrees C. (C) 2016 Optical Society of America