Wave of generation of point defects, ultrafast nucleation of clusters, and damage to transparent insulators

A model of defect generation and cluster nucleation waves is proposed and developed. These waves propagate simultaneously in transparent insulators activated by interband electron excitation resulting from multiphoton absorption of laser radiation. The following characteristics of these waves are found: the critical intensity of laser radiation at which the waves are ‘ignited’, the profiles, the propagation velocities, and the concentration of defects formed by the passage of the waves. A new criterion of multipulse laser damage to transparent insulators is introduced on the basis of the results obtained.