White-light filaments for atmospheric analysis

Dynamics of elliptical beams in the anomalous group-velocity dispersion regime

We investigate 3D spatio-temporal focusing of elliptically-shaped beams in a bulk medium with Kerr nonlinearity and anomalous group-velocity dispersion (GVD). Strong space-time localization of the mode is observed through multi-filamentation with temporal compression by a factor of 3. This behavior is in contrast to the near-zero GVD regime in which minimal pulse temporal compression is observed. Our theoretical simulations qualitatively reproduce the experimental results showing the highly localized spatio-temporal profile in the anomalous-GVD regime, which contrasts to the weakly localized pulse in the normal-GVD regime.

Determination of the transient electron temperature in a femtosecond-laser-induced air plasma filament

The transient electron temperature in a weakly ionized femtosecond-laser-produced air plasma filament was determined from optical absorption and diffraction experiments. The electron temperature and plasma density decay on similar time scales of a few hundred picoseconds. Comparison with plasma theory reveals the importance of inelastic collisions that lead to energy transfer to vibrational degrees of freedom of air molecules during the plasma cooling.

Active compensation of large dispersion of femtosecond pulses for precision laser ranging

We describe an active way of compensation for large dispersion induced in the femtosecond light pulses travelling in air for laser ranging. The pulse duration is consistently regulated at 250 fs by dispersion control, allowing sub-micrometer resolution in measuring long distances by means of time-of-flight measurement. This method could facilitate more reliable applications of femtosecond pulses for satellite laser ranging, laser altimetry and active LIDAR applications.

Femtosecond laser filamentation for atmospheric sensing

Powerful femtosecond laser pulses propagating in transparent materials result in the formation of self-guided structures called filaments. Such filamentation in air can be controlled to occur at a distance as far as a few kilometers, making it ideally suited for remote sensing of pollutants in the atmosphere. On the one hand, the high intensity inside the filaments can induce the fragmentation of all matters in the path of filaments, resulting in the emission of characteristic fluorescence spectra (fingerprints) from the excited fragments, which can be used for the identification of various substances including chemical and biological species. On the other hand, along with the femtosecond laser filamentation, white-light supercontinuum emission in the infrared to UV range is generated, which can be used as an ideal light source for absorption Lidar. In this paper, we present an overview of recent progress concerning remote sensing of the atmosphere using femtosecond laser filamentation.

Spatiotemporal airy light bullets in the linear and nonlinear regimes

We demonstrate the realization of intense Airy-Airy-Airy (Airy(3)) light bullets by combining a spatial Airy beam with an Airy pulse in time. The Airy(3) light bullets belong to a family of linear spatiotemporal wave packets that do not require any specific tuning of the material optical properties for their formation and withstand both diffraction and dispersion during their propagation. We show that the Airy(3) light bullets are robust up to the high intensity regime, since they are capable of healing the nonlinearly induced distortions of their spatiotemporal profile.

Tightly focused femtosecond laser pulse in air: from filamentation to breakdown

The propagation of tightly focused femtosecond laser pulse with numerical aperture of 0.12 in air is investigated experimentally. The formation and evolution of the filament bunch are recorded by time-resolved shadowgraph with laser energy from 2.4 mJ to 47 mJ. The distribution of electron density in breakdown area is retrieved using Nomarski interferometer. It is found that intensity clamping during filamentation effect still play a role even under strong external focusing. The electron density in some interaction zones is higher than 3 × 10(19) cm(-3), which indicates that each air molecule there is ionized.

Pulse duration dependent nonlinear propagation of a focused femtosecond laser pulse in fused silica

The nonlinear propagation of a single focused femtosecond laser pulse in fused silica has been investigated both experimentally and by numerical simulations. In particular, the filamentation behavior was systematically studied by varying pulse duration. At low pulse energy, the peak plasma density inside the filament first increases to a maximum value with increasing pulse duration and then begins to decrease. At relatively high pulse energy, denser plasma can be induced around the geometrical focus with a certain longer pulse duration, where the peak power is already below the self-focusing critical power and no filament is formed. This pulse duration dependent behavior can be explained by different ionization mechanisms.

Channeled spectropolarimetry using a coherent white-light continuum

We carry out polarization measurements using a coherent white-light continuum as a light source for channeled spectropolarimetry. The white-light continuum, whose spectrum ranges from the UV to the IR region, is generated in Kr gas by a terawatt femtosecond laser system. The complete set of Stokes parameters from 450-700 nm are reconstructed from one spectral measurement. Also, the effectiveness of channeled spectropolarimetry using a coherent white-light continuum is experimentally demonstrated with a highly attenuating sample whose transmittance is as low as 10(-6).

Hawking radiation from ultrashort laser pulse filaments

Event horizons of astrophysical black holes and gravitational analogues have been predicted to excite the quantum vacuum and give rise to the emission of quanta, known as Hawking radiation. We experimentally create such a gravitational analogue using ultrashort laser pulse filaments and our measurements demonstrate a spontaneous emission of photons that confirms theoretical predictions.

Light filaments with higher-order Kerr effect

The influence mechanism of higher-order Kerr effect on the propagation of laser beam is investigated by a modified model, which indicates that a collapsing wave will transform into a universe blowup profile. The analysis of higher-order terms of the nonlinear refractive index shows that the filamentation process can be induced by Kerr self-focusing without the occurrence of the ionization effect. The determining role of the combination of self-focusing and spontaneous defocusing and the energy reservoir in formation of lengthy filament is confirmed visually.

Energy exchange between femtosecond laser filaments in air

We report on the energy exchange between femtosecond laser filaments in air. A traveling plasma grating formed at the intersection of the filaments is proposed to explain the energy transfer. In this moving plasma grating mediated mechanism the laser energy transfers from the lower frequency pulse to its higher frequency partner, while in a traditional Kerr nonlinearity mediated grating, energy transfer occurs in the opposite manner. Based on this mechanism, we demonstrate an energy transfer ratio as high as 50% for pulses with an energy of several millijoules.

Polarization pulse shaping induced by impulsive molecular alignment in optical filamentation and application to high-order harmonic generation

We investigated theoretically and experimentally the ultrafast birefringence induced by impulsive alignment in a molecular gas during optical filamentation. This phenomenon is able to substantially affect the polarization state of an ultrashort laser pulse that propagates through the aligned medium at suitable delays from a first aligning pulse. We exploited this modulation of the polarization state in order to effectively control the high-order harmonic generation (HHG) process, which is strongly dependent on the driving pulse polarization. These results open new and fascinating perspectives for the tailoring of strong-field phenomena by means of polarization pulse shaping.

Enhancement of third-harmonic emission from femtosecond laser filament screened partially by a thin fiber

The third-harmonic (TH) emission characteristics from femtosecond laser filament, the center of which is screened by a thin metallic fiber, are experimentally investigated. The intensity of the TH emission has been enhanced for 1 order of magnitude by comparing with the undisturbed filament. The physical mechanism of the TH enhancement is analyzed to be the diffraction of the TH emission on the fiber and a redistribution of laser energy during the reconstruction of the two-colored filament. These two factors can release a part of the TH energy from the filament core into the background and keep more TH energy after the termination of filament.

Self and forced periodic arrangement of multiple filaments in glass

The formation of permanent periodic structural changes in fused silica induced by the multifilamentation process was investigated. A cylindrical lens was used to focus 800 nm 50 fs pulses with 0.5 - 3 mJ energy down to a line, resulting in a quasi-periodic linear self-arrangement of multiple filaments (MF). The quasi-period of multiple filaments is shown to be uniquely defined by the critical power of the material and the peak intensity on the sample entrance surface. A novel technique to control this spatial self-arrangement of MF is demonstrated based on the use of a binary phase mask. This technique allowed us to decrease the relative variation of spacing between the adjacent tracks of refractive index modifications by a factor of 4 as compared with the case without the phase mask. 3D + time numerical simulations qualitatively reproduce the main features of multiple filament formation obtained in the experiment.

Generation of extended filaments of femtosecond pulses in air by use of a single-step phase plate

We experimentally demonstrate that by use of a phase plate that is placed between an adjustable aperture and a focusing lens, the length of the filament can be dramatically extended in air with a femtosecond laser pulse. In addition, the far-field beam profile captured after the filament indicates that the supercontinuum is strongly confined on axis, and a single filament appears to be attainable at relatively high input pulse power when the phase plate is used.

Elongation of femtosecond filament by molecular alignment in air

We study the influence of the molecular alignment on the plasma channel length of femtosecond filament at 800 nm in air. The filament length is observed to be nearly doubled when the high-energy femtosecond laser pulse is properly tuned to match the perpendicular revivals of the molecular alignment, which is different from the low-energy femtosecond laser pulse where the filament is promoted for parallel molecular alignment revivals. These are understood to be the loosened or tightened focusing condition of the propagation of the femtosecond laser pulse by the cross-(de)focusing effect from the prealigned molecules.

Revival of femtosecond laser plasma filaments in air by a nanosecond laser

Short lived plasma channels generated through filamentation of femtosecond laser pulses in air can be revived after several milliseconds by a delayed nanosecond pulse. Electrons initially ionized from oxygen molecules and subsequently captured by neutral oxygen molecules provide the long-lived reservoir of low affinity allowing this process. A Bessel-like nanosecond-duration laser beam can easily detach these weakly bound electrons and multiply them in an avalanche process. We have experimentally demonstrated such revivals over a channel length of 50 cm by focusing the nanosecond laser with an axicon.

Characterization of coupled nonlinear spatiospectral phase following an ultrafast self-focusing interaction

We use collinear spatially resolved spectral interferometery to characterize the nonlinear phase changes experienced by an intense ultrashort pulse propagating in glass. The measurement yields the spectrally dependent wavefront, allowing us to measure the spatial and chromatic aberrations of the nonlinearly induced lens. For these conditions, we find that while the shape of the spatial wavefront follows the beam profile as expected, the spectral dependence of the lensing power is determined by the self-phase modulation. The simultaneous measurement of the nonlinear spatiospectral phase demonstrates how the nonlinear spectral phase is coupled to self-focusing.

Two-beam coupling between filament-forming beams in air

We experimentally demonstrate two-beam coupling between nearly identical filament-forming beams intersecting in air. A 7% amplification of one beam occurs at the energy expense of the other in a single interaction, controllable by adjusting their relative delay by tens of femtoseconds. The data are consistent with the impulsive Raman nonlinear response of the air molecules as the coupling mechanism. The filament conical emission is controllably enhanced or suppressed by the interaction, indicating that two-beam coupling may be an effective means for filament regeneration and control.

Ultraviolet-visible conical emission by multiple laser filaments

We characterized the angular distribution of the supercontinuum emission from multiple infrared laser filaments propagating in air over long distances, from the infrared (1080 nm) to ultraviolet (225 nm). These experimental data suggest that the X-Waves modeling or Cerenkov emission, rather than phase matching of four-wave mixing, could explain the conical emission. We also estimate the total light conversion efficiency from the original laser wavelength into the white-light continuum.

Molecular rotovibrational dynamics excited in optical filamentation

The rotovibrational dynamics excited by optical filamentation in molecular gases is studied in the temporal domain. Two time-delayed replicas of the same laser pulse have been used to generate a first filament, for the rotovibrational excitation of the sample, and a second collinear filament probing the Raman dynamics. The Fermi doublet structure in CO(2) as well as the very fast stretching mode of H(2) were clearly resolved.

Polarization separator created by a filament in air

We demonstrate that a femtosecond laser pulse-induced filament can act as a "polarization separator" for a copropagating femtosecond probe pulse. The probe component with polarization parallel to the pump is guided along the propagation axis through the cross interactions with the pump pulse. And the probe component with polarization orthogonal to that of the pump is diffracted out into an outer ring by the plasma. The extinction ratio (I(probe)(min) / I(probe)(max)) along the propagation axis is better than 1:20.

Trapping and destruction of long-range high-intensity optical filaments by molecular quantum wakes in air

We report the first observation of the strong effect of quantum rotational wave packets in atmospheric air on the long-range filamentary propagation of intense femtosecond laser pulses. In a pump-probe experiment, we find that the probe filament can be sucked into the pump filament's molecular quantum wake and trapped or be destroyed by it.

Poor man's source for sub 7 fs: a simple route to ultrashort laser pulses and their full characterization

A practicable and economic method for the generation and full characterization of laser pulses ranging down to sub 7 fs duration with energies spanning the full microJ domain is presented. The method utilizes a self-induced and self-guiding filamentation of titanium-sapphire based, amplified pulses in air for spectral broadening, a standard chirp mirror compression scheme and transient grating frequency resolved optical gating for determining the spectral phase over the full visible to near infrared range. In this manner, few-cycle laser pulses with a high quality in the spatial beam profile have been generated in an robust arrangement with a minimal amount of standard optical components for their full characterization. The optical scheme demonstrates an uncomplicated, versatile access to this regime of pulsed laser radiation accompanied by a comprehensive analysis.

Spatiotemporal moving focus of long femtosecond-laser filaments in air

The characteristics of filaments formed by femtosecond-laser pulses freely propagating in air are different from those of filaments generated with a focal lens. A scheme combining (2D+1) modeling of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation and ray-tracing method is proposed to provide a fast estimate of the long-range filamentation process in a single-filament regime. A filament with a length of more than 100m is formed by a 10-mJ , negative chirped 350-fs laser pulse freely propagating in air. A ray-tracing calculation based on the refractive index field obtained from the nonlinear Schrödinger simulation shows that, in the 100-m propagation range, the main mechanism of filamentation is the spatiotemporal moving focus induced by the initial distribution of the laser intensity. The analysis of ray trajectories suggests that the energy exchange between background and filament core due to refocusing of light rays can be induced by Kerr self-focusing without the help of the ionization effect. The plasma defocusing can be observed only at a very short distance on the propagation track, and it prevents the collapse of the laser field.

Ultrabroadband conical emission generated from the ultraviolet up to the far-infrared during the optical filamentation in air

Ultraviolet and infrared conical emissions were observed during the filamentation in air of powerful femtosecond laser pulses produced by a portable terawatt laser system. The broadband spectrum was measured from 200 nm up to 14 microm and covered the complete optical transmission window of the atmosphere. The angularly resolved spectrum showed some X-wave structure across the frequency range analyzed. However, we demonstrated that the strong conical emission observed in the mid- and far-infrared is mainly owing to the four-wave mixing between the pump pulse and its blueshifted conical emission.

Dual-color co-filamentation in Argon

We investigate both experimentally and theoretically the mechanisms driving the co-filamentation of two ultrashort laser pulses at 800 and 400 nm in Argon. The cross-Kerr lens and cross-phase modulation between the two filaments of different colors bridging both the continuum spectra and the plasma channels induced by the individual pulses. This dual-color filamentation also results in the simultaneous generation of two few-cycle pulses at both 800 and 400 nm, providing a potential way to generate attosecond pulses.

Acquisition of gated spectra from a supercontinuum using ultrafast optical Kerr gate of lead phthalocyanine-doped hybrid glasses

We demonstrated the selection of the chirped supercontinuum using an ultrafast optical Kerr gate (OKG) of lead phthalocyanine (PbPc)- doped hybrid glasses. Using the OKG, narrow bandwidth and symmetrical gated spectra were obtained continuously from the chirped supercontinuum generated in a sapphire plate with a femtosecond laser. Experimental results show that the obtained Kerr-gated spectra using the PbPc-glass have many advantages comparing with that using CS(2).

Cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy of multiple trace gas species using a supercontinuum radiation source

Supercontinuum radiation sources are attractive for spectroscopic applications owing to their broad wavelength coverage, which enables spectral signatures of multiple species to be detected simultaneously. Here we report the first use of a supercontinuum radiation source for broadband trace gas detection using a cavity enhanced absorption technique. Spectra were recorded at bandwidths of up to 100 nm, encompassing multiple absorption bands of H(2)O, O(2) and O(2)-O(2). The same instrument was also used to make quantitative measurements of NO(2) and NO(3). For NO(3) a detection limit of 3 parts-per-trillion in 2 s was achieved, which corresponds to an effective 3sigma sensitivity of 2.4 x 10(-9) cm(-1)Hz(-1/2). Our results demonstrate that a conceptually simple and robust instrument is capable of highly sensitive broadband absorption measurements.

Ultrafast gaseous "half-wave plate"

We demonstrate that filaments generated by ultrashort laser pulses can induce a remarkably large birefringence in Argon over its whole length, resulting in an ultrafast "half-wave plate" for a copropagating probe beam. This birefringence originates from the difference between the nonlinear refractive indices induced by the filament on the axes parallel and orthogonal to its polarization. An angle of 45 degrees between the filament and the probe polarizations allows the realization of ultrafast Kerr-gates, with a switching time ultimately limited by the duration of the filamenting pulse.

Effect of an energy reservoir on the atmospheric propagation of laser-plasma filaments

The ability to select and stabilize a single filament during propagation of an ultrashort, high-intensity laser pulse in air makes it possible to examine the longitudinal structure of the plasma channel left in its wake. We present the first detailed measurements and numerical 3-D simulations of the longitudinal plasma density variation in a laser-plasma filament after it passes through an iris that blocks the surrounding energy reservoir. Since no compensation is available from the surrounding background energy, filament propagation is terminated after a few centimeters. For this experiment, simulations indicate that filament propagation is terminated by plasma defocusing and ionization loss, which reduces the pulse power below the effective self-focusing power. With no blockage, a plasma filament length of over a few meters was observed.

Rotational Raman effects in the wake of optical filamentation

The spatiotemporal effects generated in the wake of a laser filament propagating in nitrogen are investigated. At suitable time delays, a probe light pulse propagating along the wake experiences a strong spatial confinement and a noticeable spectral broadening at the same time. Numerical simulations, well reproducing the experimental findings, show the key role of the impulsive rotational Raman response in the observed phenomena.

(3+1)-dimensional numerical simulations of femtosecond laser filaments in air: toward a quantitative agreement with experiments

Three-dimensional numerical simulations and direct experimental measurements of the multifilamentation of femtosecond laser pulses propagating in air are quantitatively compared. Agreement is obtained in terms of the evolution of the filamentation pattern and in terms of the size and energy of the individual filaments through 12 m of propagation. These results are made possible by the combination of a massively parallel propagation code along with a nondestructive experimental diagnostic technique. Influence of the pulse duration is moreover addressed. The numerical calculations also show that single and multiple filaments exhibit almost identical spectral signature.

Identification of biological microparticles using ultrafast depletion spectroscopy

We show how an ultrafast pump-pump excitation induces strong fluorescence depletion in biological samples, such as bacteria-containing droplets, in contrast with fluorescent interferents, such as polycyclic aromatic compounds, despite similar spectroscopic properties. Application to the optical remote discrimination of biotic versus non-biotic particles is proposed. Further improvement is required to allow the discrimination of one pathogenic among other non-pathogenic micro-organisms. This improved selectivity may be reached with optimal coherent control experiments, as discussed in the paper.

Long- and short-lived electrons with anomalously high collision rates in laser-ionized gases

Ultrashort broadband terahertz pulses are applied to probe the electron dynamics of gaseous Ar and O2 following ionization by an intense femtosecond laser pulse. The conductivity in the plasma center is extracted by a modified Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin approach. It exhibits a nearly perfect Drude-like spectral shape and yields the temporal evolution of the free-electron density and collision rate. While the electron density in the Ar plasma remains nearly constant during the first 200ps after generation, it decays much faster in O2 due to dissociative recombination which is only possible in molecular plasmas. Adding a small amount of the electron scavenger SF6 to Ar reduces the electron lifetime in the plasma dramatically and allows us to determine the electron temperature to about 20,000K . Furthermore, anomalously high, metal-like electron collision rates of up to 25THz are found. Kinetic plasma theory substantially underestimates these rates pointing towards additional and more complex processes randomizing the total electronic momentum. Our results are relevant to both lightning control and generation of terahertz radiation by intense laser pulses in gases.

Numerical modeling of the electrical breakdown and discharge properties of laser-generated plasma channels

An extensive nonequilibrium steady-state kinetics model incorporating collisional and radiative processes is developed to study the electrical breakdown and discharge maintenance of laser-induced atmospheric plasma channels formed in externally applied electric fields. The model is based upon a self-consistent numerical solution of the Boltzmann equation for the electron energy distribution function coupled with the electron energy balance equation and the population balance equations for electrons and air species. Using the electron energy distribution function, the ionization and electron attachment rates as a function of the reduced applied electric field at different degrees of ionization are calculated. We find that the ionization rate as a function of applied electric field in a laser-induced plasma channel is orders of magnitude larger than that obtained for a natural atmospheric air discharge. Therefore, the electrical breakdown of these plasma channels may occur at significantly lower applied electric fields. The present model predicts a breakdown electric field of 10kVcm , while the experimentally determined breakdown field strength is approximately 5.7kVcm [A. P. Baronavski, NRL Memorandum Report No. NRL/MR/6110-02-8642, 2002 (unpublished)], a reduction of about a factor of 5 from the natural Paschen electrical breakdown field of approximately 30kVcm .

Conical forward THz emission from femtosecond-laser-beam filamentation in air

We attribute a strong forward directed THz emission from femtosecond laser filaments in air to a transition-Cherenkov emission from the plasma space charge moving behind the ionization front at light velocity. Distant targets can be easily irradiated by this new source of THz radiation.

Fine structure of a laser-plasma filament in air

The ability to select and stabilize a single filament during propagation of an ultrashort high-intensity laser pulse in air makes it possible to examine the longitudinal structure of the plasma channel left in its wake. We present detailed measurements of plasma density variations along laser propagation. Over the length of the filament, electron density variations of 3 orders of magnitude are measured. They display evidence of a meter-long postionization range, along which a self-guided structure is observed coupled with a low plasma density, corresponding to approximately 3 orders of magnitude decrease from the peak density level.

Suppression of ultrafast supercontinuum generation in a salivary protein

The first studies of the propagation of ultrafast (<45 fs) pulses of intense infrared light through protein media reveal that supercontinuum (white light) generation is severely suppressed in the presence of the protein alpha-amylase, a potential stress marker in human saliva. The continuum suppression capacity is attributed to the electron scavenging property of the protein.

Stimulated Raman X waves in ultrashort optical pulse filamentation

We demonstrate that ultrashort pulse filamentation in liquids with strong Raman gain leads to the spontaneous formation of nonlinear X waves at a Raman-shifted wavelength. We measured as much as 75% energy conversion efficiency into a Raman X wave in ethanol starting from 1 ps pulses due to the group velocity matching between the pump and Raman X pulses. Large Raman gain of a weak seed signal was observed in water, associated with a strong spatiotemporal transformation of the seed into an X wave.

Characteristics of multiple filaments generated by femtosecond laser pulses in air: prefocused versus free propagation

The characteristics of the multiple filaments formed by prefocused and freely propagating femtosecond laser pulses are investigated and compared. It is shown in our experiments that the diameter, length, stability, and interaction for the two cases can be quite different. The filaments formed by prefocused beam indicate dynamic spatial evolution with higher laser intensity and electron density. They have a typical diameter of 100 microm are of shorter length. In the free propagation case, the filaments exhibit interesting properties such as hundred-meter propagation distance and mm-size diameter. Moreover, only the interaction of the filaments with the energy background affects the evolution of the filaments. Filament-filament interactions such as the filament splitting and merging were not observed in this case.

Lidar measurement of constituents of microparticles in air by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy using femtosecond terawatt laser pulses

We experimentally demonstrated remote sensing of the constituents of microparticles in air by combining laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and lidar, using femtosecond terawatt laser pulses. Laser pulses of 70 fs duration and 130 mJ energy generated filaments when focused at a focal length of 20 m and the pulses irradiated artificial saltwater aerosols in air at a 10 Hz pulse repetition rate. Na fluorescence was observed remotely at a distance of 16 m using a 318 mm diameter Newtonian telescope, a spectrometer, and an intensified CCD camera. These results show the possibility of remote measurement of the constituents of atmospheric particles, such as aerosols, clouds, and toxic materials, by LIBS-lidar using femtosecond terawatt laser pulses.

Explosive photodissociation of methane induced by ultrafast intense laser

A new type of molecular fragmentation induced by femtosecond intense laser at the intensity of 2 x 10(14) W/cm2 is reported. For the parent molecule of methane, ethylene, n-butane, and 1-butene, fluorescence from H (n = 3-->2), CH (A 2Delta, B 2Sigma-, and C 2Sigma+-->X 2Pi), or C2 (d 3Pi g-->a 3Pi u) is observed in the spectrum. It shows that the fragmentation is a universal property of neutral molecule in the intense laser field. Unlike breaking only one or two chemical bonds in conventional UV photodissociation, the fragmentation caused by the intense laser undergoes vigorous changes, breaking most of the bonds in the molecule, like an explosion. The fragments are neutral species and cannot be produced through Coulomb explosion of multiply charged ion. The laser power dependence of CH (A-->X) emission of methane on a log-log scale has a slope of 10 +/- 1. The fragmentation is thus explained as multiple channel dissociation of the superexcited state of parent molecule, which is created by multiphoton excitation.

Plasma density inside a femtosecond laser filament in air: strong dependence on external focusing

Our experiment shows that external focusing strongly influences the plasma density and the diameter of femtosecond Ti-sapphire laser filaments generated in air. The control of plasma filament parameters is suitable for many applications such as remote spectroscopy, laser induced electrical discharge, and femtosecond laser material interactions. The measurements of the filament showed the plasma density increases from 10(15)cm(-3) to 2 x 10(18)cm(-3) when the focal length decreases from 380 cm to 10 cm while the diameter of the plasma column varies from 30 microm to 90 microm. The experimental results are in good qualitative agreement with the results of numerical simulations.

Depolarization of white light generated by ultrashort laser pulses in optical media

We report measurements of the extinction ratio (ER) of white light generated upon irradiation of BK7 glass by ultrashort (36 fs) laser pulses with incident power approximately 10(3) times larger than the critical power for self-focusing. At low incident powers, the continuum is symmetric about the incident laser wavelength; at high powers it becomes broader and distinctly asymmetric towards the blue side. We observe that ER degrades by 100-fold after the onset of multiphoton-induced free-electron generation (at incident intensity approximately 2 TW cm-2), which also corresponds to the onset of asymmetry in white-light spectra.

Self-focusing arrest of femtosecond laser pulses in air at different pressures

We study analytically and numerically the self-focusing arrest of femtosecond laser pulses in air at different pressures in the presence of an external focus lens. Analytical estimations as well as results of simulations show that the intensity at which the self-focusing arrest occurs is almost independent of the gas pressure. However, a dependence on the temperature is found. The Raman effect is taken into account, and an estimation of the intensity inside of filaments at high altitudes is given.