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Updated: Jul 26, 2026
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Investigation of Early Plasma Evolution Induced by Ultrashort Laser Pulses
Published on: July 2, 2012
Tubular plasma generation with a high-power hollow bessel beam
1Institute for Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA.
Summary
Researchers created a high-power hollow Bessel beam to generate tubular plasma fibers. Simulations and experiments showed good agreement in plasma evolution, advancing laser-plasma interaction studies.
Area of Science:
- Plasma Physics
- Laser-Induced Breakdown
- Nonlinear Optics
Background:
- Bessel beams offer unique propagation-invariant properties.
- Generating hollow Bessel beams is crucial for applications like plasma channel formation.
- Understanding laser-matter interactions at high intensities is fundamental.
Purpose of the Study:
- To generate a high-power hollow Bessel beam (J5).
- To achieve optical breakdown of a gas target and create a tubular plasma fiber.
- To validate simulation results with experimental measurements.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an axicon and a phase plate to generate the hollow Bessel beam.
- Performed optical breakdown experiments on a gas target.
- Conducted hydrodynamic simulations of beam-plasma interactions.
- Employed interferometric measurements to study plasma time evolution.
Main Results:
- Successfully generated a high-power hollow Bessel beam (J5).
- Demonstrated the formation of a tubular plasma fiber via optical breakdown.
- Hydrodynamic simulations showed reasonable agreement with experimental interferometric data on plasma evolution.
Conclusions:
- The combination of an axicon and phase plate is effective for generating high-power hollow Bessel beams.
- The generated beam can create tubular plasma fibers through optical breakdown.
- The study validates the use of hydrodynamic simulations for modeling laser-plasma interactions.
