WIAS Preprint No. 1377, (2008)
Self-pinching of pulsed laser beams in a plasma filament
Authors
- Brée, Carsten
- Demircan, Ayhan
- Skupin, Stefan
- Bergé, Luc
- Steinmeyer, Günter
2010 Mathematics Subject Classification
- 78A60 81V80 35Q55 37K40
2008 Physics and Astronomy Classification Scheme
- 42.65.Tg 42.65.-k 52.38.Hb 42.68.Ay
Keywords
- Nonlinear Schrödinger Equations, Optical self-focusing, Ultrashort pulse propagation
DOI
Abstract
Competing nonlinear optical effects that act on femtosecond laser pulses propagating in a self-generated plasma filament may give rise to a pronounced radial deformation of the beam, similar to the z-pinch contraction of pulsed high-current discharges. This self-pinching locally increases the photon density. The process is further identified as the first stage in the recently observed self-compression of femtosecond laser pulses propagating in filaments. Self-pinching also explains the complicated spatio-temporal shapes generally observed in filament compression experiments.
Appeared in
- Optics Express, 17 (2009) pp. 16429-16435.
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