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Femtosecond Laser Filaments for Use in Sub-Diffraction-Limited Imaging and Remote Sensing
Published on: April 25, 2019
Intensity spikes in laser filamentation: diagnostics and application.
Mette B Gaarde1, Arnaud Couairon
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803-4001, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|August 8, 2009
Summary
We calculated laser filamentation in argon, revealing intensity spikes exceeding clamping levels by 3x. These spikes generate isolated attosecond pulses, useful for diagnostics.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Nonlinear Optics
- Quantum Electronics
Background:
- Laser-driven filamentation is a key phenomenon in nonlinear optics.
- Understanding intensity dynamics within filaments is crucial for applications like high harmonic generation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate laser peak intensity dynamics during filamentation in argon with subcycle precision.
- To explore the generation and characteristics of ultra-short pulses within these filaments.
- To assess the utility of high harmonic radiation as a diagnostic tool for intensity spikes.
Main Methods:
- Numerical simulations with subcycle precision were employed.
- Calculations focused on laser-matter interaction in argon gas.
Main Results:
- Laser peak intensity was found to exceed the clamping intensity by up to a factor of 3 during recurring spikes.
- These high-intensity spikes, lasting several femtoseconds, generate isolated 500 attosecond, 2 pJ pulses.
- High harmonic radiation generated within the filament effectively diagnoses these intensity spikes.
Conclusions:
- Subcycle-resolved simulations reveal significant intensity overshoots in laser filaments.
- Filamentation can produce isolated attosecond pulses with potential for extraction.
- High harmonic generation serves as a valuable diagnostic for transient high-intensity events in filaments.
