Propagation of intense short laser pulses in the atmosphere

Sprangle, P.; Peñano, Joseph; Hafizi, B.

doi:10.1103/physreve.66.046418

Cited by 265 publications

(185 citation statements)

References 78 publications

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“…Their model associated with specific physical effects occuring in filamentation became rapidly a standard in the field. In the frequency domain corresponding to the retarded time t ≡ t lab − z/v g , this model reads [3,12,20,30,53,76,84]:…”

Section: Propagationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Femtosecond Filamentation in Air

Couairon

Mysyrowicz

2006

Springer Series in Chemical Physics

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Section: Propagationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Femtosecond Filamentation in Air

Couairon

Mysyrowicz

2006

Springer Series in Chemical Physics

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“…Today, femtosecond transmission in the atmosphere continues to attract much attention because of its potential applications in remote sensing and Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR). Topics in this area that attract major research interest include nonlinear effects, ionization, atmosphere turbulence, and their impact on pulse propagation (Akozbek et al, 2000;Mlejnek et al, 1999;Sprangle et al, 2002;Rodriguez et al, 2004). However, most of the previous work on atmospheric propagation of femtosecond pulses focuses on the interactions between air and individual pulses.…”

Section: Frequency Comb-based Clock Transfermentioning

confidence: 99%

Atmospheric Clock Transfer Based on Femtosecond Frequency Combs

Duan¹,

Gollapalli²

2012

Photodetectors

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“…Central to the alternative SOS strategy, on the basis of lasing in the major constituents of the ambient air, is the process of femtosecond laser filamentation (7)(8)(9). When a light beam with peak power exceeding the self-focusing threshold (∼3 GW ¼ cm 2 ) propagates in the air, its transverse intensity profile shrinks because of self-focusing.…”

Section: Lasing Of N 2 and O 2 In Airmentioning

confidence: 99%

Standoff spectroscopy via remote generation of a backward-propagating laser beam

Hemmer

Miles

Polynkin

et al. 2011

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

148

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In an earlier publication we demonstrated that by using pairs of pulses of different colors (e.g., red and blue) it is possible to excite a dilute ensemble of molecules such that lasing and/or gain-swept superradiance is realized in a direction toward the observer. This approach is a conceptual step toward spectroscopic probing at a distance, also known as standoff spectroscopy. In the present paper, we propose a related but simpler approach on the basis of the backward-directed lasing in optically excited dominant constituents of plain air, N 2 and O 2 . This technique relies on the remote generation of a weakly ionized plasma channel through filamentation of an ultraintense femtosecond laser pulse. Subsequent application of an energetic nanosecond pulse or series of pulses boosts the plasma density in the seed channel via avalanche ionization. Depending on the spectral and temporal content of the driving pulses, a transient population inversion is established in either nitrogen-or oxygen-ionized molecules, thus enabling a transient gain for an optical field propagating toward the observer. This technique results in the generation of a strong, coherent, counterpropagating optical probe pulse. Such a probe, combined with a wavelength-tunable laser signal(s) propagating in the forward direction, provides a tool for various remote-sensing applications. The proposed technique can be enhanced by combining it with the gain-swept excitation approach as well as with beam shaping and adaptive optics techniques.air laser | atmospheric surveillance | threat detection | Raman T he continuous monitoring of the atmosphere for traces of gases and pathogens at kilometer-scale distances is an important and challenging problem, with applications in environmental science and national security. Measurements using light detection and ranging (LIDAR) techniques coupled with differential absorption LIDAR have been reported (1, 2). These techniques provide valuable tools for the measurement of trace impurities in the atmosphere.However, to enhance sensitivity and information content retrieved by the return signal, a different technology is needed. In ref. 3, we presented standoff spectroscopy (SOS) technique for detection of trace impurities in the atmosphere via gain-swept superradiance (4). In that scheme, we first pump the molecules of interest, e.g., nitric oxide or phosgene, at some prearranged distance, say, 300 m. These molecules decay spontaneously to a lower state via a specific radiation frequency. Then the impurity molecules at, say, 290 m, are excited at a later time that is delayed from the first pulse by Δτ ¼ 10m c ≅3 × 10 −8 s, so that some gain is realized in the second region. Subsequent regions of inversion are generated by later pulse pairs as in Fig. 1. In ref. 3, which will be briefly reviewed in Gain-Swept Lasing of Impurities in Air, the impurity molecules themselves constitute the lasing medium. In the present paper, we propose a simpler alternative approach that is based on transient backward-directed lasing i...

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Propagation of intense short laser pulses in the atmosphere

Cited by 265 publications

References 78 publications

Femtosecond Filamentation in Air

Femtosecond Filamentation in Air

Atmospheric Clock Transfer Based on Femtosecond Frequency Combs

Standoff spectroscopy via remote generation of a backward-propagating laser beam

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