Curved Plasma Channel Generation Using Ultraintense Airy Beams

    Authors

    P. Polynkin; M. Kolesik; J. V. Moloney; G. A. Siviloglou;D. N. Christodoulides

    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Science

    Keywords

    LASER-PULSES; FEMTOSECOND; FILAMENTATION; Multidisciplinary Sciences

    Abstract

    Plasma channel generation (or filamentation) using ultraintense laser pulses in dielectric media has a wide spectrum of applications, ranging from remote sensing to terahertz generation to lightning control. So far, laser filamentation has been triggered with the use of ultrafast pulses with axially symmetric spatial beam profiles, thereby generating straight filaments. We report the experimental observation of curved plasma channels generated in air using femtosecond Airy beams. In this unusual propagation regime, the tightly confined main intensity feature of the axially nonsymmetric laser beam propagates along a bent trajectory, leaving a curved plasma channel behind. Secondary channels bifurcate from the primary bent channel at several locations along the beam path. The broadband radiation emanating from different longitudinal sections of the curved filament propagates along angularly resolved trajectories.

    Journal Title

    Science

    Volume

    324

    Issue/Number

    5924

    Publication Date

    1-1-2009

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    229

    Last Page

    232

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000265024400040

    ISSN

    0036-8075

    Share

    COinS