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

Phys Rev Lett. 2007 Jun 8;98(23):235002. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.235002. Epub 2007 Jun 7.

Abstract

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.