title: Investigation of laser annealing parameters for optimal laser-damage performance in deuterated potassium dihydrogen phosphate.
abstract: Laser annealing via preexposure to laser pulses at sub-damage-threshold fluences is known to improve the resistance of KDP crystals to laser-induced damage. Using a specific damage-testing method, we investigate the laser annealing process as a function of fluence and number of preexposure pulses (at 355 nm, 2.5 ns). Our aim is to reveal the key laser parameters in order to devise a practical and efficient protocol for optimizing performance of the material for operation in laser systems in the near UV. Results suggest that a near twofold improvement to the laser-damage performance can be achieved with a limited number of preexposure pulses.
authors.affiliation: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551-0808, USA. negres2@llnl.gov
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Negres
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: DeMange
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Demos