The detection of damage associated shock pulses via the deflection of a probe laser beam is exploited to study multiple-shot damage thresholds in CaF2, PMMA, copper, and aluminium. We find a reduction of threshold intensity as compared to single-shot con- ditions. The experimental results point towards deviations from the previously postu- lated fluence dependence FN = FINS-1 [see Ref.4]. They are, however, compatible with a simple model relating the threshold reduction to defect accumulation via non-linear energy absorption.
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