Demonstration of a Plasma Waveguide in a Fast Argon Capillary Discharge.

We report results of the study of a plasma waveguide created by a fast argon capillary discharge. The rapid plasma compression that occurs following a fast current pulse generates an electron density profile with a minimum on axis which constitutes a suitable channel for the optical guiding of intense laser pulses. Interferometric measurements that directly map the evolution of the electron density profile of the waveguide are presented. Guided beam propagation of a 40 m J, 2.5 ps, laser pulse by an 11 cm long capillary discharge is reported, along with measurements of the near field and far field distributions of the guided beam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]