Microscopic model for the higher-order nonlinearity in optical filaments

Journal Article · Wed Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2010 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.82.065801· OSTI ID:21529014

Teleki, A ^[1]; Wright, E M ^[2]; Kolesik, M ^[2]

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1. Department of Physics, Constantine the Philosopher University, Nitra (Slovakia)
2. College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 (United States)

Using an exactly soluble one-dimensional atomic model, we explore the idea that the recently observed high-order nonlinearity in optical filaments is due to virtual transitions involving the continuum states. We show that the model's behavior is qualitatively comparable with the experimentally observed crossover from self-focusing to defocusing at high intensities, and only occurs at intensities which result in significant ionization. Based on these observations, we conjecture that this continuum electron nonlinear refraction exhibits strong memory effects and, most importantly, the change of its sign is effectively masked by the defocusing due to free electrons.

• OSTI ID: 21529014
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Vol. 82, Issue 6; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.82.065801; (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 1050-2947
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ATOMIC MODELS
ELECTRONS
FILAMENTS
FOCUSING
IONIZATION
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
ONE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
REFRACTION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
LEPTONS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS