Control of filamentation induced by femtosecond laser pulses propagating in air

Controlling nonlinear collapse of ellipticity and orientation of a co-variant vector optical field

A vector optical field with inhomogeneous spatial polarization distribution offers what we believe to be a new paradigm to form controllable filaments. However, it is challenging to steer multiple performances (e.g. number, orientation, and interval) of filaments in transparent nonlinear media at one time. Herein, we theoretically self-design and generate a kind of believed to be novel ellipticity and orientation co-variant vector optical field to interact with Kerr medium to solve this issue. The collapsing behaviors of such a new hybrid vector optical field reveal that, by judiciously adjusting the inherent topological charge and initial phase of incident optical field, we are able to give access to stable collapsing filamentation with tunable numbers, orientations and interval. Additionally, the collapsing patterns presented are immune nearly to the extra random noise. The relevant mechanism behind the collapse of the vector optical field is elucidated as well. The findings in this work may have huge potential in optical signal processing, laser machining, and other related applications.

Self-focusing propagation characteristics of a radially-polarized beam in nonlinear media

In this study, an analytical formula for the self-focusing length of a radially polarized beam (RPB) is first derived, which has a similar behavior to the semi-empirical Marburger formula of a Gaussian beam, and is beneficial to quantitatively and qualitatively analyze practical experimental scenarios. However, the relation of the self-focusing length with the states of polarization (SoPs) was evaluated, and it was found that RPB with spatially inhomogeneous SoP at the field cross-section can retain a further self-focusing length compared to a beam with a spatially homogeneous one. The influence of the topological charge on the self-focusing length is explored, which shows that RPB with a low topological charge can achieve a high-power density at a relatively further receiver plane. Therefore, it is demonstrated that the RPB as a laser source not only extends the self-focusing length, but also improves the power density of the target. With the help of RPB, it is possible to realize a controllable self-focusing length and a high target optical power density, which may have potential applications in fine optical manipulation, optical communication, high-power long-range laser atmospheric propagation, and related areas.

Collapse Dynamics of Vortex Beams in a Kerr Medium with Refractive Index Modulation and PT-Symmetric Lattices

Using the two-dimensional nonlinear Schrödinger equation, the collapse dynamics of vortex beams in a Kerr medium with refractive index modulation and parity–time (PT) symmetric lattices are explored. The critical power for the collapse of vortex beams in a Kerr medium with real optical lattices (i.e., refractive index modulation lattices) was obtained and discussed. Numerical calculations showed that the number of self-focusing points, the locations of the collapse, and the propagation distances for collapse are sensitively dependent on the modulation factors, topological charge numbers, and initial powers. When the vortex optical field propagates in a Kerr medium with real optical lattices, the optical field will collapse into a symmetrical shape. However, the shape of the vortex beam will be chaotically distorted and collapse in asymmetric patterns during propagation in a Kerr medium with PT-symmetric lattices because of the presence of the complex refraction index. Introducing PT-symmetric lattices into nonlinear Kerr materials may offer a new approach to controlling the collapse of vortex beams.

Control of the spatial characteristics of femtosecond laser filamentation in glass via feedback-based wavefront shaping with an annular phase mask

We propose a feedback-based wavefront shaping with an annular phase mask to control the spatial characteristics of femtosecond laser filamentation in K9 glass. A closed-loop feedback driven by a genetic algorithm was used to search for the optimal phase profile for generating the specified filaments. We demonstrate the flexibility of this method to extend or shorten filaments, improve continuity, and simultaneously control the position of filaments with specified lengths. Our approach offers a flexible regulation of the spatial characteristics of femtosecond laser filamentation for its potential applications.

Influence of the external focusing and the pulse parameters on the propagation of femtosecond annular Gaussian filaments in air

We numerically investigate the effects of the external focusing and the pulse parameters on the propagation of the ring Gaussian filaments in air. The simulation results indicate that the onset distance of filament, the length and uniformity of the plasma strings, and the energy deposition strongly depend on these optical parameters. The length of optical filament can be extended greatly by adjusting the lens parameters near the maximum energy deposition. In addition, we find that, under the same initial intensity, the length and uniformity of the plasma strings can be tuned by increasing the beam width better than increasing the beam radius.

Control of the configuration of multiple femtosecond filaments in air by adaptive wavefront manipulation

We demonstrate the ability to position single and multiple filaments arbitrarily within the energy reservoir of a high power femtosecond laser pulse. A deformable mirror controlled by a genetic algorithm finds the optimal phase profile for producing filaments at user-defined locations within the energy reservoir to within a quarter of the nominal filament size, on average. This proof-of-principle experiment demonstrates a potential technique for fast control of the configuration of the filaments.

Taming the collapse of optical fields

Field collapse, which occurs in various nonlinear systems, has attracted much attention, owing to its universality, complexity, and applicability. A great challenge and expectation is to achieve the controllable and designable collapsing pattern. Here we predict theoretically and demonstrate experimentally the novel collapsing behaviors of the vector optical fields in a self-focusing Kerr medium. Surprisingly, the results reveal that the collapse of the vector optical field is controllable and designable by engineering the distribution of hybrid states of polarization, and has the robust feature insensitive to the random noise. Our idea has its significance which it opens a new window for manipulating the optical field and the different kinds of field, and then facilitates to push the related researches.

Dynamic space shaping of intense ultrashort laser light with blazed-type gratings

A beam shaper for dynamic transversal shaping of broadband laser pulses that utilizes a blazed ruled grating and a blazed-type grating simulated on Spatial Light Modulator was demonstrated. The introduced shaper scheme is an extension of 2f-2f scheme [Mariyenko, et al., Opt. Express 13, 7599 (2005)] where the two thin holograms with matched grating constants performed light shaping. The new scheme utilizes the diffraction gratings with different grating constants. Dispersion-free light shaping is achieved by means of the intermediate transversal light beam magnification. The magnification balances the mismatch in the grating constants resulting in total residual angular dispersion compensation. In turn, the magnified beam covers a greater area on the modulator matrix thus reducing the incident light power density by a value equal to square of the magnification factor. It translates to the safe-operation threshold extension of the modulator allowing shaping pulses that are powerful enough to be used in the applications. With a proper components selection, the throughput efficiency of the shaper can be well above 40%. A proper shaper operation was demonstrated with the 140-fs Ti:Sapphire oscillator. Theoretical calculations support the conclusions.

Wavefront control to generate ultraviolet supercontinuum by filamentation of few-cycle laser pulses in argon

We numerically demonstrated the filamentation dynamics of a 6 fs, 800 nm pulse focused in argon at atmospheric pressure by a zone plate and a concave mirror. In comparison with a concave mirror, the zone plate has a frequency-dependent focal length and can be used to control the wavefront of the laser beam in the frequency domain. A separate supercontinuum in the ultraviolet region extending from 250 to 300 nm and peaked at ~280 nm can be generated by using a proper zone plate.

Decoupling algorithm of a double-layer bimorph deformable mirror: analysis and experimental test

With the increasing requirements on spatial resolution and actuator pitch, multilayer bimorph deformable mirrors are coming into wider application in adaptive optics. This paper discusses the coupling of actuators of multilayer bimorph deformable mirrors. A decoupling algorithm based on controlling gradients directly is presented. And a closed-loop adaptive optics system, which consists of a double-layer bimorph deformable mirror and a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor, is set up to validate this decoupling algorithm. Experimental results show that the intensity distribution at the image plane of the distorted wavefront is effectively improved when the modified closed-loop control is on. Besides, the experimental results fit well with the conclusion of numerical simulation.