Radiation effects on laser damage in KU1 quartz glass

Both in-beam and post-irradiation effects on laser damage have been studied for three different materials: high purity UV grade sapphire, common glass and KU1 quartz glass. No in-beam effects have been observed. Notable changes in the laser damage sensitivity due to the accumulated dose occur in common glass and KU1 quartz glass, but not in sapphire. KU1 quartz glass becomes less sensitive with increasing dose, and one concludes that this material may be used as a window for LIDAR systems at dose rates of at least 70 Gy/s, to total doses of up to 100 MGy.