A laser processing system has a laser source and a divergence-tuning beam characteristic conditioner configured to, in response to a control input, repetitively change a variable divergence laser beam between a first divergence and a second divergence that is different from the first divergence. The system also includes a process head having a collimating lens and a focusing lens. And the system includes a delivery fiber coupled to the divergence-tuning beam characteristic conditioner for guiding the variable divergence laser beam and launching it to the process head. The collimating lens is configured to receive the variable divergence laser beam and direct it as an intermediate beam to the focusing lens to focus the intermediate beam toward the workpiece at a first depth corresponding to the first divergence and at a second depth corresponding to the second divergence.