Ultrafast third harmonic generation imaging of microplasma at the threshold of laser-induced plasma formation in solids

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We present a method of ultrafast laser-induced microplasma mapping based on the third harmonic generation at tightly focused laser beams in solids. The technique gives a submicron resolution and can be applied for two-dimensional imaging of laser-induced microplasma with the electron density as low as 10−5 ncr produced by a femtosecond laser driver at the plasma formation threshold. High sensitivity and contrast are dictated by nonlinear behavior of the third harmonic yield with the laser field. The demonstrated method gives an opportunity to increase the precision of plasma volume determination in the field of material microstructuring.