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Title: Tracking propagation of ultrashort intense laser pulses in gases via probing of ionization

Abstract

We use optical interferometry to study the propagation of femtosecond laser pulses in gases. We show the measurements of propagation in a nitrogen gas jet and we compare the results with propagation in He under the same irradiation conditions. We find that in the case of nitrogen, the detailed temporal structure of the laser pulse can be tracked and visualized by measuring the phase and the resulting electron-density map. A dramatically different behavior occurs in He gas jets, where no details of the temporal structure of the laser pulse are visible. These observations are explained in terms of the ionization dynamics of nitrogen compared to helium. These circumstances make N{sub 2} gas sensitive to variations in the electric field and, therefore, allow the laser-pulse temporal and spatial structures to be visualized in detail.

Authors:
; ; ; ; ; ;  [1];  [1]; ; ; ;  [2]
  1. Intense Laser Irradiation Laboratory, IPCF-Area della Ricerca CNR, Via Moruzzi, 1 56124 Pisa (Italy)
  2. Physique a Haute Intensite, CEA-DSM/DRECAM/SPAM, Bat. 522 p. 148, 91191 Gif sur Yvette Cedex (France)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
21294123
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics (Print)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 79; Journal Issue: 5; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.79.056405; (c) 2009 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 1539-3755
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; ELECTRIC FIELDS; ELECTRON DENSITY; HELIUM; INTERFEROMETRY; IONIZATION; IRRADIATION; LASERS; LIGHT TRANSMISSION; NITROGEN; PLASMA; PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS; PULSES; VISIBLE RADIATION

Citation Formats

Gizzi, L A, Betti, S, Giulietti, A, Giulietti, D, Labate, L, Levato, T, Tomassini, P, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare-INFN, Pisa, Galimberti, M, Monot, P, Ceccotti, T, De Oliveira, P, and Martin, Ph. Tracking propagation of ultrashort intense laser pulses in gases via probing of ionization. United States: N. p., 2009. Web. doi:10.1103/PHYSREVE.79.056405.
Gizzi, L A, Betti, S, Giulietti, A, Giulietti, D, Labate, L, Levato, T, Tomassini, P, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare-INFN, Pisa, Galimberti, M, Monot, P, Ceccotti, T, De Oliveira, P, & Martin, Ph. Tracking propagation of ultrashort intense laser pulses in gases via probing of ionization. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVE.79.056405
Gizzi, L A, Betti, S, Giulietti, A, Giulietti, D, Labate, L, Levato, T, Tomassini, P, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare-INFN, Pisa, Galimberti, M, Monot, P, Ceccotti, T, De Oliveira, P, and Martin, Ph. 2009. "Tracking propagation of ultrashort intense laser pulses in gases via probing of ionization". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVE.79.056405.
@article{osti_21294123,
title = {Tracking propagation of ultrashort intense laser pulses in gases via probing of ionization},
author = {Gizzi, L A and Betti, S and Giulietti, A and Giulietti, D and Labate, L and Levato, T and Tomassini, P and Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare-INFN, Pisa and Galimberti, M and Monot, P and Ceccotti, T and De Oliveira, P and Martin, Ph},
abstractNote = {We use optical interferometry to study the propagation of femtosecond laser pulses in gases. We show the measurements of propagation in a nitrogen gas jet and we compare the results with propagation in He under the same irradiation conditions. We find that in the case of nitrogen, the detailed temporal structure of the laser pulse can be tracked and visualized by measuring the phase and the resulting electron-density map. A dramatically different behavior occurs in He gas jets, where no details of the temporal structure of the laser pulse are visible. These observations are explained in terms of the ionization dynamics of nitrogen compared to helium. These circumstances make N{sub 2} gas sensitive to variations in the electric field and, therefore, allow the laser-pulse temporal and spatial structures to be visualized in detail.},
doi = {10.1103/PHYSREVE.79.056405},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/21294123}, journal = {Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics (Print)},
issn = {1539-3755},
number = 5,
volume = 79,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2009},
month = {Fri May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2009}
}