Bulk laser damage variability in deuterated potassium dihydrogen phosphate (DKDP) crystals is well known and makes online conditioning of multiple-beam laser systems difficult to optimize. By using an empirical model, called Absorption Distribution Model (ADM), we were able to map the damage variability of the crystals (boule to boule as well as within same boule) in terms of defect population variations. The defect population variation was found to coalesce into two distinct groupings that can be identified by the defect population in the late growth region of the boule. This result allows us to optimize the conditioning protocol for an arbitrary number of beams with crystals of differing damage quality.
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