Station for LIDT tests of optical components under cryogenic conditions

In this contribution we present a technology for deposition and testing of interference coatings for optical components designed to operate as in power pulsed lasers. We have designed and are in the process of building a testing apparatus which serves as an addition to our existing optical coating production facility. This allows us to prepare a coating which can then tested and the results might be used to optimize it. The test samples are placed in a vacuum chamber, cooled down to approximately 120K and illuminated by a pulsed laser to determine laser damage threshold of the coatings under conditions similar to real life operation. Optical microscopy and spectrophotometer measurements are going to be used for coating investigation after the conducted experiments.