Propagation Of Laser Pulses In Air Research Articles

Energy limit for linear-to-nonlinear femtosecond laser pulse focusing in air

Propagation of a tightly focused high-power ultrashort laser pulse in an optical medium is usually substantially influenced by the medium optical nonlinearity that can noticeably affect the laser pulse parameters around the nonlinear focus and lead to unavoidable and often undesirable spatial distortions of the focal waist. We present the results of our experimental study and numerical simulations on a femtosecond Ti:Sapphire laser pulse propagation in air under different spatial focusing. We concentrated our study on spectral-angular and spatial pulse transformations under different focusing regimes - from linear to nonlinear one, when pulse filamentation occurs. For the first time to the best of our knowledge, we found the laser pulse numerical apertures range – namely, from NA = 2·10-3 to 5 10-3(for the laser pulse energy of 1 mJ), where the laser pulse distortions both in frequency-angular spectrum and pulse spatial shape are minimal. By means of the numerical simulations, we found the threshold pulse energy and peak power in a wide range of focusing conditions, within which a transition between the linear and strongly nonlinear laser pulse focusing in air takes place. This energy limit is shown to decrease with pulse numerical aperture enhancement. Our findings identify the laser pulse numerical apertures and energes adequate for getting a maximum laser intensity with a good beam quality around the focal point suitable for various laser micropatterning and micromachining technologies.

Diffraction-Ray Optics of Femtosecond Laser Pulses Propagating in Air Under the Influence of the Normal Group Velocity Dispersion

Results of theoretical study of the femtosecond Ti:Sa laser pulse propagation in air under the influence of the normal group velocity dispersion are presented. The use of the diffraction-ray tube method for an analysis of numerical solutions of the nonlinear Schrodinger equation in chromatic dispersion medium with the Kerr and plasma nonlinearity makes it possible to determine the main regularities of the femtosecond laser pulse selffocusing and filamentation in air for various pulse durations, initial beam radii, and peak powers. It is shown that under the influence of the group velocity dispersion, the filamentation terminates with an increase in the initial radius of the laser beam even at high values of supercritical powers. With an increase in the dispersion distortions of the pulse, the radius of the energetically replenishing diffraction-ray tube, the angular divergence of the post-filamentation light channel, and the nonlinear focus coordinate normalized to the Rayleigh length increase in the central time slices of the laser pulse and its integral pattern.

Diffraction-ray tube analysis of ultrashort high-intensity laser pulse filamentation in air

The results of theoretical simulation of femtosecond Ti:Sapphire laser pulse propagation in air in the self-focusing and filamentation regimes are presented. The self-focusing of pulsed radiation was analyzed based on the diffraction-ray tracing method, within which the beam power propagates within specific light structures, known as the diffraction-ray tubes. These tubes do not intersect in space and do not exchange their energy, but the changes in their shape and cross-section reflect the physical effects occurring with the radiation during its propagation through the medium. This allows discovering the formation of specific light structures in a laser beam during its self-focusing. One of these structures is the energy-replenishing diffraction-ray tube (ERT), which provides the filamentation domain with the necessary light energy and exists also in the form of a high-intensity light channel during the post-filamentation propagation of a pulse. The dependences of the radius and power of this energy-replenishing tube on the initial beam radius and peak radiation power at a fixed pulse length are derived. It is revealed that the radiation energy expenditure for filamentation decreases as the beam radius increases. The peak power in ERT does not exceed the critical self-focusing power for a Gaussian beam during the post-filamentation propagation of a pulse and weakly depends on the initial pulse parameters.

Numerical Construction of Nonlinear Optical Evolution of Femtosecond Laser Pulse Propagation in Air Based on 2D+1 NLSE Full Model

Numerical Construction of Nonlinear Optical Evolution of Femtosecond Laser Pulse Propagation in Air Based on 2D+1 NLSE Full Model

Effect of geometrical focusing on femtosecond laser filamentation with low pressure

The influence of geometrical focusing on the filamentation of femtosecond laser pulses at various low pressures (<1 atm) in air has been numerically demonstrated. The main peculiarities, such as filamentation dynamics, spatial-temporal evolution and supercontinuum generation manipulated by external geometrical focusing in the low atmospheric pressure regime, are analyzed by numerically solving a spatial-temporal equation for femtosecond laser pulse propagation in air. The results show that those important characteristics are more sensitive to the focal length than the variation of atmospheric pressure. It indicates that suitable design of the focal length will result in further amplitude uniformity and a lack of temporal aberrations in the compressed pulse. This theoretical modelling of pulse shaping optimization is a step to realization of high-energy femtosecond pulse delivery from the Earth’s surface to altitudes of several kilometers up into the atmosphere.

Multi variable control of filamentation of femtosecond laser pulses propagating in air

A comprehensive approach for control of filamentation and generation of a high density conductive channel during femtosecond intense laser pulse propagation in air is being reviewed. Imposing astigmatism on the beam with a tilted lens allows obtaining a single stable filament out of a high power pulse (orders of magnitude higher than the critical power), which would otherwise generate random multiple filamentation pattern. The collapse distance of filaments is controlled with a double lens setup. Once the filament is stabilized, a substantially extended lifetime of the high density plasma channel generated in its wake is experimentally demonstrated using combination of femtosecond and nanosecond laser pulses. Free electron density above 1015 cm−3 in the formed plasma filament is measured to sustain for over 30 ns. This high density plasma lifetime prolongation of more than one order of magnitude is achieved by properly timed irradiation of the filament with a relatively low intensity nanosecond laser pulse, in comparison to a filament without such irradiation. The experimental results are in good agreement with our theoretical model that follows the evolution of the temperature and density of various molecules, atoms and ion species. The results point to the possibility of generating substantially long time duration, stable high density plasma filaments in air.

Pattern dynamics and filamentation of femtosecond terawatt laser pulses in air including the higher-order Kerr effects

Plasma defocusing and higher-order Kerr effects on multiple filamentation and pattern formation of ultrashort laser pulse propagation in air are investigated. Linear analyses and numerical results show that these two saturable nonlinear effects can destroy the coherent evolution of the laser field, and small-scale spatial turbulent structures rapidly appear. For the two-dimensional case, numerical simulations show that blow-up-like solutions, spatial chaos, and pseudorecurrence can appear at higher laser intensities if only plasma defocusing is included. These complex patterns result from the stochastic evolution of the higher- or shorter-wavelength modes of the laser light spectrum. From the viewpoint of nonlinear dynamics, filamentation can be attributed to the modulational instability of these spatial incoherent localized structures. Furthermore, filament patterns associated with multiphoton ionization of the air molecules with and without higher-order Kerr effects are compared.

Filament formation beyond linear focus during femtosecond laser pulse propagation in air

The threshold relation between the strength of laser beam focusing and its peak power is determined for post-focal filamentation on the basis of the experimental data and numerical simulations. The dynamics of the post-focal filamentation can vary (propagating or reconstruction type) depending on the strength of linear beam focusing.

Simulation of femtosecond laser pulse propagation in air

We studied the effects of different peak powers and initial pulse shapes during femtosecond laser pulse propagation in air. The full 3D simulation result showed that there was a bundle of discontinuous filaments along intense femtosecond laser pulse propagation axis. Comparisons between pulses with different input peak powers and initial pulse shapes could help us to find ways for forming long and uniform plasma channel in air.

Early-stage plasma dynamics with air ionization during ultrashort laser ablation of metal

In this study, the early-stage plasma evolution generated by an ultrashort laser pulse is investigated through pump-probe shadowgraph measurements and simulations. The measurements are performed to show the evolution of the plasma front, while the simulation model is used to further investigate the evolution process and mechanism. Specifically, the laser pulse propagation in air is simulated using the beam propagation method with the slowly varying envelope approximation. The lattice dynamics, the electron dynamics and the multi-scattering event, and the evolution of charged particles (free electrons and ions), are simulated using a molecular dynamics method, a Monte Carlo method, and a particle-in-cell method, respectively. With this simulation model, the refractive index and plasma evolutions are calculated and compared with measured results to validate the simulation model. Different plasma expansion processes, caused by the air ionization, are found with the focal point slightly above and below the target. Air ionization occurs in both cases, but their primary mechanisms are shown to be different.

On the focusing limit of high-power femtosecond laser pulse propagation in air

Focused propagation of high-power femtosecond laser radiation in air is considered. Based on numerical solution of the nonlinear Schrodinger equation for complex envelope of light wave electric field, evolution of the beam effective radius is studied. The dependence of the effective (rms) size of a focal spot and the maximally achievable intensity of laser radiation at focal waist on the initial pulse power is established. It is shown that focal spot of tightly focused intensive ultrashort laser radiation can change its size during the pulse passage through the beam waist. This is the consequence of pulse intensity clamping in region of beam focusing caused by gas photoionization and plasma producing. This may prevent laser intensity from its further growth in the focal region and arrest the transversal compression of the beam in the linear focus as a whole.

Measurements of intense femtosecond laser pulse propagation in air

The nonlinear self-focusing of an intense femtosecond pulse propagating in air can be balanced by the plasma defocusing as the laser intensity is increased above the threshold for multiphoton ionization. The resultant laser∕plasma filament can extend many meters, suitable for many applications such as remote atmospheric breakdown, laser induced electrical discharge, and femtosecond laser material interactions. Direct (bore-sight) measurements of filament size and fluence over 4 m showed a preservation of the total energy in the filament during propagation. This indicates the energy lost in creating the central plasma column through multiphoton ionization was continuously being replenished from the surrounding radiation. Electrical measurement of the filament conductivity estimated the plasma density to be 1×1016cm−3 and electrical discharges triggered by a femtosecond laser filament were found to occur at substantially reduced breakdown fields.

Self-Guided Intense Laser Pulse Propagation in Air

We report on observation of self-guiding of picosecond laser pulses in air that produces large-scale self-phase modulation. The converging picosecond laser beam produced a confined filament over 3 m of propagation with the whitelight spectrum.