Strong Enhancement of Terahertz Radiation from Laser Filaments in Air by a Static Electric Field

Journal Article · Fri Jun 27 04:00:00 EDT 2008 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.100.255006· OSTI ID:21134080

Houard, Aurelien; Yi, Liu; Prade, Bernard; Mysyrowicz, Andre ^[1]; Tikhonchuk, Vladimir T ^[2]

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1. Laboratoire d'Optique Appliquee, ENSTA, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS UMR 7639, Palaiseau, 91761 France (France)
2. Centre Lasers Intenses et Applications, Universite Bordeaux 1, CEA, CNRS UMR 5107, Talence, 33405 France (France)

We observe a 3 order of magnitude enhancement of the terahertz energy radiated by a femtosecond pulse undergoing filamentation in air in the presence of a static electric field. Measurements of terahertz pulse duration, spectrum, polarization, and radiation pattern elucidate the physical processes responsible for this radiation. A theoretical model explains the results and predicts another 3 orders of magnitude enhancement with a terawatt laser pulse.

• OSTI ID: 21134080
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 25 Vol. 100; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AIR
ELECTRIC FIELDS
FILAMENTS
LASERS
POLARIZATION
PULSES
SPECTRA