Dynamics of the Emission from a Light Filament
Abstract
This report covers a basic research program on the propagation of ultrashort pulses of high intensity in air. After the optical beam collapses because of the lensing the high intensity induces in air, a balance between self-focusing and electron plasma defocusing takes place which confines the beam over a long distance, compensating diffraction. Movies are created, following at the speed of light the 2-dimensional image of the radiation, trapped in its self-made waveguide of filament. Attempt is made to add another dimension to this movie: the wavelength of the radiation that is followed. The signal - divided among space coordinates, time and wavelength is unfortunately below a detectable level. Eliminating one space dimension, a time delay is measured for the first time between the exciting laser pulse and the emission of the nitrogen cation. This indicates clearly a light emitting molecular positive ion is not produced at the time of ionization by a femtosecond pulse.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 30, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1058473
Entities
People
- Jean-claude Diels
Organizations
- University of New Mexico