Femtosecond laser-induced damage threshold of nematic liquid crystals at 1030 nm

The laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) of nematic liquid crystals is investigated in the femtosecond regime at ≃ 1030 n mathvariant="normal">m . thickness and breakdown freely suspended thin films ( 100 ) different mixtures (MLC2073, MLC2132, E7) monitored real time by spectral-domain interferometry. duration laser pulses was varied from 180 fs to 1.8 ps for repetition rates ranging single shot 1 MHz. dependence LIDT with pulse suggests a mechanism dominated ionization mechanisms low rate linear absorption high rate. In single-shot regime, LIDTs exceeding 1 mathvariant="normal">J / mathvariant="normal">c 2 are found three mixtures. polyvinyl alcohol also same method.