The paper reports the comparative studies on the laser-induced single-shot
and multiple-shot surface damage thresholds of nonlinear crystals, viz. Ure
a, 3-methyl-3-nitropyridine-1 oxide (POM), L-arginine phosphate (LAP) and b
eta-barium berate (BBO) crystals. The measurements were made using radiatio
n of 1064 nm and its second harmonic generation, i.e. 532 nm from a Q-switc
hed Nd:YAG laser of pulse width 10 ns. In addition, the effect of Na+ impur
ity incorporated during growth in BBO crystal in different concentration (w
t.%) has also been studied, and attempted to be correlated with various fac
tors. We also measured the absorption coefficients of these crystals at dif
ferent wavelengths. The Scanning Electron Microscope coupled with Energy Di
spersive X-Ray Analyzer (SEM-EDX) has been employed to study the inclusions
/impurities present in the crystals. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rig
hts reserved.