Non-linear Synthesis of Complex Laser Waveforms at Remote Distances

Abstract

Strong deformation of ultrashort laser pulse shapes is unavoidable when delivering high intensities at remote distances due to non-linear effects taking place while propagating. Relying on the reversibility of laser filamentation, we propose to explicitly design laser pulse shapes so that propagation serves as a non-linear field synthesizer at a remote target location. Such an approach allows, for instance, coherent control of molecules at a remote distance, in the context of standoff detection of pathogens or explosives.

17 pages, 6 figures

References in corpus (4)

• Ultrashort filaments of light in weakly-ionized, optically-transparent media
• Higher-order Kerr terms allow ionization-free filamentation in gases
• Reversibility of laser filamentation
• Multidimensional spectroscopy with a single broadband phase-shaped laser pulse

Cited by in corpus (6)

• Shortcuts to adiabatic passage for fast generation of three-atom singlet state by transitionless quantum driving
• Amplification of intense light fields by nearly free electrons
• Ab-initio calculations of laser-atom interactions reveal harmonics feedback during macroscopic propagation
• Linearity of charge measurement in laser filaments
• Reverse design of the ideal pulse for hollow capillary fiber post-compression schemes
• Modifications of filament spectra by shaped octave-spanning laser pulses