Controlling TW-laser pulse long-range filamentation in air by a deformable mirror

Area of Science:

• Nonlinear optics
• Laser physics
• Plasma physics

Background:

• Multiple filamentation of intense laser pulses is crucial for applications like atmospheric sensing and laser-induced plasmas.
• Controlling filamentation over long distances remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the multiple filamentation of terawatt-power femtosecond laser pulses over a 137m air path.
• To demonstrate precise manipulation of filamentation position and spatial structure.
• To achieve stable, long-distance control of high-intensity light channels.

Main Methods:

• Experimental and theoretical modeling of laser pulse propagation.
• Utilized a multielement optical setup including a Galilean telescope and a deformable bimorph mirror.
• Introduced controlled aberrations to the pulse phase profile.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated wide-ranging manipulation of filamentation region position and spatial structure.
• Achieved the first experimental realization of a stable, wide-aperture (5 cm diameter) ring-shaped spatial lattice of high-intensity light channels.
• This lattice structure persisted over hundreds of meters in air.

Conclusions:

• Controlled wavefront shaping allows precise manipulation of femtosecond laser filamentation.
• The realized ring-shaped lattice represents a significant advancement in controlling intense light propagation in air over long distances.