Higher-order Kerr terms allow ionization-free filamentation in gases

Authors :: Béjot, P.
Kasparian, J.
Henin, S.
Loriot, V.
Vieillard, T.
Hertz, E.
Faucher, O.
Lavorel, B.
Wolf, J. -P.
Source :: Physical Review Letters 104, 103903 (2010)
Publication Year :: 2010
Abstract: We show that higher-order nonlinear indices ($n_4$, $n_6$, $n_8$, $n_{10}$) provide the main defocusing contribution to self-channeling of ultrashort laser pulses in air and Argon at 800 nm, in contrast with the previously accepted mechanism of filamentation where plasma was considered as the dominant defocusing process. Their consideration allows to reproduce experimentally observed intensities and plasma densities in self-guided filaments.<br />Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures (11 panels)

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