Defects of large-size KDP single crystals and their influence on degradation of the optical properties

Abstract It is shown that the developed method of solvent re-circulation, which provides optimum growth conditions at a constant temperature (Tcr = 80 °C, Vgrowth ∼ (0.8–1.6) × 10−6 cm/s, pH = 4), allows to grow KDP crystals with a cross-section up to 300 × 300 mm and a bulk laser damage threshold of ∼60 J/cm2.