Transmission and damage-threshold measurements in AgGaSe(2) at 2.1 microm

Measurements of transmission loss coefficients in AgGaSe(2) at 2.1 microm ranged from 0.012 to 0.072 cm(-1). Energy density, not peak-power density, proved to be the determining factor in AgGaSe(2) damage threshold. Coated-surface damage thresholds originally were found to be in the 1.1-2.5-J/cm(2) region by using 180-nsec laser pulses, but damage thresholds as high as 3.5 J/cm(2), with a 3 J/cm(2) average, were measured in coated samples with improved surface quality.