Regularities of propagation of amplitude-modulated high-power femtosecond laser radiation in the air

Abstract

The experimental results of the features of formation and path propagation of high-intensity light channels under conditions of distortions of the initial profile of a high-power femtosecond laser beam are presented. The distortions are introduced by amplitude modulation of the laser beam with the help of the masks. The use of amplitude masks allows generation of a given number of high-intensity light channels and their controllable filamentation mainly at short (tens of meters) distances of radiation propagation in air.