WAVE OF GENERATION OF POINT-DEFECTS, ULTR AFAST NUCLEATION OF CLUSTERS, AND DAMAGE TO TRANSPARENT INSULATORS

A model of defect generation and cluster nucleation waves is proposed and developed. These waves propagate simultaneously in transparent ins ulators activated by interband electron excitation resulting from mult iphoton absorption of laser radiation. The following characteristics o f these waves are found; the critical intensity of laser radiation at which the waves are <<ignited>>, the profiles, the propagation velocit ies, and the concentration of defects formed by the passage of the wav es. The new criterion of multipulsed laser damage of transparent diele ctrics is introdused on the base of the results obtained.