| Abstract [eng] |
In this work we embark on a short journey through the field of light and matter interaction with the focus on the optical damage and optical fatigue of materials. These two phenomena often limit the applicability of optical elements and inhibit technological advancement. In simple terms, optical damage can be defined as permanent modification of material properties caused by high concentration of light. Meanwhile, optical fatigue is observed when optical damage is formed by multiple pulses with the contribution from each pulse often being very small and difficult to perceive. We start with overview of light-matter interaction and related physical phenomena, followed by an introduction to the commonly used investigation methods. Then time-resolved digital holography is discussed in detail as a unique tool with enormous potential. It can be used to observe rapid optical path changes related to physical phenomena that are typically invisible to the naked eye. These changes can be induced by density, temperature, stress, and excited states of mater. The last section is dedicated to the novel applications of time-resolved digital holography dedicated to the nonlinear light-matter interaction some of which are supported by ultrafast spectrometry. Applications include nonlinear refractive index evaluation, estimation of the residual heat after nonlinear light-matter interaction with a single pulse as well as detection of optical fatigue in both thin film and bulk media. |
