Impact-ionization mediated self-focusing of long-wavelength infrared pulses in gases

We numerically investigate the propagation dynamics of intense long-wavelength infrared pulses in a weakly ionized argon gas and show that the pulses undergo self-focusing due to the transverse variations of electron-impact ionization caused by quivering electrons. We demonstrate this plasma-induced...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Optics letters 2019-02, Vol.44 (4), p.827-830
Main Authors: Gao, Xiaohui, Shim, Bonggu
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Argon
Electron density
Ionization
Pulse duration
Wave propagation
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Summary:We numerically investigate the propagation dynamics of intense long-wavelength infrared pulses in a weakly ionized argon gas and show that the pulses undergo self-focusing due to the transverse variations of electron-impact ionization caused by quivering electrons. We demonstrate this plasma-induced self-focusing at a power much lower than the critical power for Kerr self-focusing, and find that it can be controlled by the initial electron density and pulse duration.
ISSN:0146-9592
1539-4794
DOI:10.1364/OL.44.000827