Oval-like hollow intensity distribution of tightly focused femtosecond laser pulses in air

Opt Express. 2007 Dec 24;15(26):17973-9. doi: 10.1364/oe.15.017973.

Abstract

The propagation of a tightly focused femtosecond laser pulse in air has been investigated. Unlike long-distance self-guided propagation of short laser pulses, a novel oval-like hollow distribution of the laser intensity is observed in the experiments and reproduced by the numerical simulations. The formation of the hollow structures can be explained by the interplay between ionization-induced refraction and Kerr self-focusing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Air*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Lasers*
  • Light
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Refractometry / methods*
  • Scattering, Radiation