Simple models for laser-induced damage and conditioning of potassium dihydrogen phosphate crystals by nanosecond pulses

When potassium dihydrogen phosphate crystals (KH2PO4 or KDP) are illuminated by multi-gigawatt nanosecond pulses, damages may appear in the crystal bulk. One can increase damage resistance through a conditioning that consists in carrying out a laser pre-exposure of the crystal. The present paper addresses the modeling of laser-induced damage and conditioning of KDP crystals. The method is based on heating a distribution of defects, the cooperation of which may lead to a dramatic temperature rise. In a previous investigation [Opt. Express 15, 4557-4576 (2007)], calculations were performed for cases where the heat diffusion was permitted in one and three spatial dimensions, corresponding respectively to planar and point defects. For the sake of completeness, the present study involves the 2D heat diffusion that is associated with linear defects. A comparison to experimental data leads to the conclusion that 1D calculations are the most appropriate for describing the laser-induced damage in KDP. Within this framework, the evolution of the damage density is given as a function of the laser energy density and an in-depth analysis of the results is provided based on simple analytical expressions that can be used for experimental design. Regarding the conditioning, assuming that it is due to a decrease in the defect absorption efficiency, two scenarios associated with various defect natures are proposed and these account for certain of the observed experimental facts. For instance, in order to improve the crystal resistance to damage, one needs to use a conditioning pulse duration shorter than the testing pulse. Also, a conditioning scenario based on the migration of point (atomic-size) defects allows the reproduction of a logarithmic-like evolution of the conditioning gain with respect to the number of laser pre-exposures. Moreover, this study aims at refining the knowledge regarding the precursor defects responsible for the laser-induced damage in KDP crystals. Within the presented modeling, the best candidate permitting the reproduction of major experimental facts is comprised of a collection of one-hundred-nanometer structural defects associated with point defects as for instance cracks and couples of oxygen interstitials and vacancies. (C) 2009 Optical Society of America