A method of operating a laser light source including a wavelength
conversion device in which two wavelength laser beams are input to a
nonlinear crystal to output a sum frequency wavelength, according to one
embodiment includes inputting only one wavelength laser beam of the two
input wavelength laser beams to the nonlinear crystal; measuring
scattered light intensity of the one wavelength laser beam by a light
sensitive sensor installed on an optical axis of the sum frequency
wavelength output beam; and judging a damage state of the nonlinear
crystal based on a measurement value obtained of the intensity
measurement by the light sensitive sensor.