Ultrashort laser applications in lidar and atmospheric sciences

The propagation of ultrashort, ultra-intense laser pulses gives rise to strongly nonlinear processes. In particular, filamentation is observed, yielding an ionized, conducting plasma channel where white-light supercontinuum due to self-phase modulation occurs. This supercontinuum, extending from the UV to the IR, is a suitable "white laser" source for atmospheric remote sensing, and especially Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging). Recent significant results in this regard are presented, as well as lightning control using ultrashort laser pulses. The application of ultrashort-pulse lidar to aerosol monitoring is also discussed.