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Optics Express

Optics Express

  • Editor: C. Martijn de Sterke
  • Vol. 17, Iss. 14 — Jul. 6, 2009
  • pp: 11450–11456

Optics InfoBase > Optics Express > Volume 17 > Issue 14 > Page 11450

Revival of femtosecond laser plasma filaments in air by a nanosecond laser

Bing Zhou, Selcuk Akturk, Bernard Prade, Yves-Bernard André, Aurélien Houard, Yi Liu, Michel Franco, Ciro D’Amico, Estelle Salmon, Zuo-Qiang Hao, Noelle Lascoux, and André Mysyrowicz  »View Author Affiliations


Optics Express, Vol. 17, Issue 14, pp. 11450-11456 (2009)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.17.011450


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Abstract

Short lived plasma channels generated through filamentation of femtosecond laser pulses in air can be revived after several milliseconds by a delayed nanosecond pulse. Electrons initially ionized from oxygen molecules and subsequently captured by neutral oxygen molecules provide the long-lived reservoir of low affinity allowing this process. A Bessel-like nanosecond-duration laser beam can easily detach these weakly bound electrons and multiply them in an avalanche process. We have experimentally demonstrated such revivals over a channel length of 50 cm by focusing the nanosecond laser with an axicon.

© 2009 OSA

OCIS Codes
(190.7110) Nonlinear optics : Ultrafast nonlinear optics
(350.5400) Other areas of optics : Plasmas

ToC Category:
Nonlinear Optics

History
Original Manuscript: March 31, 2009
Revised Manuscript: May 7, 2009
Manuscript Accepted: May 10, 2009
Published: June 24, 2009

Citation
Bing Zhou, Selcuk Akturk, Bernard Prade, Yves-Bernard André, Aurélien Houard, Yi Liu, Michel Franco, Ciro D’Amico, Estelle Salmon, Zuo-Qiang Hao, Noelle Lascoux, and André Mysyrowicz, "Revival of femtosecond laser plasma filaments in air by a nanosecond laser," Opt. Express 17, 11450-11456 (2009)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-17-14-11450


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