High efficiency guiding of terawatt subpicosecond laser pulses in a capillary discharge plasma channel

Journal Article · Sat May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1999 · Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.59.R4769· OSTI ID:348240

Kaganovich, D; Ting, A; Moore, C I; Zigler, A; Burris, H R; Ehrlich, Y; Hubbard, R; Sprangle, P ^[1]

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1. Plasma Physics Division, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 20375 (United States)

Transmission efficiencies in excess of 75{percent} were obtained in the optical guiding of subpicosecond, terawatt laser pulses in a 2-cm-long capillary discharge plasma channel at the Naval Research Laboratory. The guided laser beam size at the exit of the channel was measured using far field imaging and Thomson scattering techniques. The guided laser intensity was {gt}1{times}10{sup 17} W/cm{sup 2} at a guided beam diameter of 35 {mu}m for a propagation length of 22 Rayleigh ranges. There is evidence that the plasma channel extends beyond the ends of the capillary and affects the far field beam structure of the transmitted laser pulse. {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital The American Physical Society}

• OSTI ID: 348240
• Journal Information: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics, Vol. 59, Issue 5; Other Information: PBD: May 1999
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION
LASER RADIATION
BEAM-PLASMA SYSTEMS
LIGHT TRANSMISSION
PLASMA EXPANSION