Propagation of intense, ultrashort laser pulses through metal vapor: refraction-limited behavior for single pulses
- Physics and Space Technology, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, California 94551 (United States)
- Combustion Research Facility, Sandia National Laboratories, P.O. Box 969, Livermore, California 94551 (United States)
Propagation of intense, ultrashort laser pulses through self-induced underdense aluminum plasmas is examined at intensity levels of as high as 5{times}10{sup 17} W/cm{sup 2}. Observations of the on-axis transmitted portion of the incident pulse are consistent with optical-field ionization and subsequent plasma refraction. A novel application of frequency-resolved optical gating provides measurement of time-resolved spectra, giving amplitude and phase information of the transmitted laser waveform. At high enough incident intensity the transmitted energy is reduced to the 1{percent} level, the short-wavelength extent of the complex spectra can be downshifted by as much as 19{percent} from the incident wavelength, and the duration of the transmitted laser waveform is noticeably shortened. The usefulness of the frequency-resolved optical gating diagnostic in studying the dynamics of ionization and laser{endash}plasma interactions is demonstrated. {copyright} {ital 1996 Optical Society of America.}
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG05-92ER40739
- OSTI ID:
- 285879
- Journal Information:
- Journal of the Optical Society of America, Part B: Optical Physics, Vol. 13, Issue 2; Other Information: PBD: Feb 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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