TJ, Danny

Before installing the point absober mask:

• Final check on how the orientation of the installed mask gets projected on the compensation plate
  • To do this we inserted a shim to cover the diamond aperture (please see first attached figure)
  • It appears that the suggested HWS orientation in alog 46918 is correct. 
• We changed the angle of incidence into the poker mask so the reflected beam could be properly dumped (please see second attached figure). 
• Attempted to increase the signal to noise of the CO2 heating through the poker mask by increasing input power to 3 watts (see third figure). 

Installing the point absorber mask: 

• We installed the mask as shown on the left of the fourth attached figure.
• We didn't have much more time so we increased power only up to 1 watt for a few minutes with the point absorber mask in the path. (please see fifth attached image)

Next step:

• Analyze the optical path distortion with the compensation plate at a steady thermal state with 450 mW of CO2 power through the point absorber mask.