Correlation between stimulated scattering processes and laser-induced damage in crystalline quartz

The results of a systematic series of experiments to uncover possible correlation between laser-induced s.b.s. phonons and damage in quartz are presented. Such correlation is confirmed and the various thresholds established. The anomalous transmission factor under phonon generation is found to decay exponentially as predicted with increasing incident laser power. The l.f. s.b.s. phonon is also demonstrated to be a sensitive probe for precatastrophic damage.