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arXiv · 1011.1568

Spectral dependence of purely-Kerr driven filamentation in air and argon

W. Ettoumi·P. Béjot·Y. Petit·V. Loriot·E. Hertz·O. Faucher·B. Lavorel·J. Kasparian·J. -P. Wolf
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Abstract

Based on numerical simulations, we show that higher-order nonlinear indices (up to $n_8$ and $n_{10}$, respectively) of air and argon have a dominant contribution to both focusing and defocusing in the self-guiding of ultrashort laser pulses over most of the spectrum. Plasma generation and filamentation are therefore decoupled. As a consequence, ultraviolet wavelength may not be the optimal wavelengths for applications requiring to maximize ionization.

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W. Ettoumi, P. Béjot, Y. Petit, V. Loriot, E. Hertz, O. Faucher, B. Lavorel, J. Kasparian, J. -P. Wolf. 2010-11-06. Spectral dependence of purely-Kerr driven filamentation in air and argon. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.82.033826

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