LASER APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING OPTICAL ELEMENT

A laser apparatus is provided with an optical element which is formed from a CaF2 crystal, which receives an ultraviolet laser beam obliquely entering one surface thereof, through which the ultraviolet laser beam transmits, and in which the electric field axis of a P-polarized light component, with respect to the surface, of the laser beam propagating thereinside coincides with one axis included in of the CaF2 crystal. This method for manufacturing the optical element includes a step for cutting an ingot perpendicularly to a cutting axis, the ingot being formed by causing crystal growthof a seed crystal of CaF2 in one axial direction included in , the cutting axis being defined as an axis that is inclined at an angle within the range of 14.18+-5 degrees from the direction of the crystal growth toward the direction of another axis which is included in and is different from the axis in the direction of the crystal growth. 激光装置具有光学元件，该光学元件由CaF晶体形成，紫外的激光倾斜地入射到光学元件的1个面并进行透射，在内部传播的激光相对于上述面的P偏振成分的电场轴和CaF晶体的 中包含的1个轴一