chapter 1 Introduction -- chapter 2 Optical effects at low power/energy levels -- chapter 3 Optical effects at medium power/energy levels -- chapter 4 Damage theory -- chapter 5 Surfaces and sub-surfaces -- chapter 6 Coatings -- chapter 7 Special topics -- chapter 8 Measurement techniques -- chapter Appendices -- chapter 2 Summary of literature surveys of typical damage threshold in MWmm2 under 10 ns Q-switched 1.06 mm irradiation -- chapter 3 Damage thresholds measured at the GEC Hirst Research Centre (MWmm2) 1.064 mm irradiation, 10 ns -- chapter 4 (a) Summary of LIDT measurements made at 10.6 mm at the GEC Hirst Research Centre on infrared window substrates and coatings (pulsewidth, ¼ 100 ns) -- chapter 5 Summary of LIDTs of infrared transmitting materials -- chapter 6 LIDTs of metal mirrors -- chapter 7 LIDTs of coated substrates -- chapter 8 Summary of the LIDTs of ultraviolet transmitting materials -- chapter 9 Summary of damage thresholds under HF/DF laser irradiation -- chapter 10 Continuous wave laser damage, 10.6 mm -- chapter 11 Comparison of the LIDTs of /4 single-layer coatings on fused silica.