The Damage Threshold of a Pockels cell refers to the maximum intensity or power of incident light that the Pockels cell can withstand without sustaining permanent damage. It represents a critical parameter in the operation of Pockels cells, especially in high-power laser applications where the intensity of the light passing through the cell can be extremely high.

When the intensity of the incident light exceeds the damage threshold, it can lead to various forms of damage to the Pockels cell, such as optical breakdown, thermal damage, or material degradation. This damage can manifest as changes in the optical properties of the cell, including increased absorption, scattering, or even structural changes like cracking or melting of the material.

The Damage Threshold is typically specified in terms of either intensity (W/cm²) or power (W) of the incident light beam. Manufacturers often provide this specification along with guidelines for safe operation to prevent damage to the Pockels cell. Additionally, factors such as pulse duration, wavelength, and repetition rate of the incident light can also influence the damage threshold of the Pockels cell.

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