The present invention refers to a method for the quantitative measurement of the pulse laser stability of synthetic fused silica, whereby this method avoids time-consuming and demanding measurements and saves material. First, the absorption of fused silica is measured for different energy densities, and a non-linear function .alpha..sub.1(H) is determined on the basis of the measured values. Second, the fused silica is subject to radiation with a higher energy density up to the point at which a constant absorption value is achieved. In the following, the absorption of the fused silica is measured at different energy densities, and a non-linear function .alpha..sub.2(H) is determined. The difference between the two non-linear functions indicates the increase of absorption that depends on the energy density.