DEVELOPED POLAROID FILM AS A HIGH-RESOLUTION RECORDING MEDIUM FOR HIGH-POWER PULSED LASER-RADIATION

When an unexposed but developed high-speed Polaroid film is subjected to intense pulsed laser radiation the photographic layer is evaporated, leaving a light spot at the place of exposure. This fact is often used as a means of establishing the presence of a high-power pulsed laser beam. This note reports on a quantitative investigation of the properties of high-speed Polaroid film with respect to energy (or power) and spatial resolution when subjected to Nd:YAG ( lambda =1.06 mu m) pulsed laser radiation. The results show that this type of film serves as a suitable recording medium with good energy resolution properties. Spatial frequencies higher than 200 lines mm-1 have been resolved.