Full path single-shot imaging of femtosecond pulse collapse in air turbulence

Abstract

In a single shot, we measure the full propagation path, including the evolution to pulse collapse, of a high power femtosecond laser pulse propagating in air. This technique enables single-shot examination of the effect of parameters that fluctuate on a shot-to-shot basis, such as pulse energy, pulse duration, and air turbulence-induced refractive index perturbations. We find that even in lab air over relatively short propagation distances, turbulence plays a significant role in determining the location of pulse collapse.

References in corpus (5)

• Spatio-temporal optical vortices
• Direct measurement of the acoustic waves generated by femtosecond filaments in air
• Quantum Control of Molecular Gas Hydrodynamics
• Sensitivity of propagation and energy deposition in femtosecond filamentation to the nonlinear refractive index
• Bound electron nonlinearity beyond the ionization threshold

Cited by in corpus (1)

• Statistical parameters of femtosecond laser pulse post-filament propagation on 65m air path with localized optical turbulence