Curvature aided long range propagation of short laser pulses in the atmosphere

Yedierler B.

PHYSICS OF PLASMAS, vol.20, no.3, 2013 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 20 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2013
  • Doi Number: 10.1063/1.4795305
  • Journal Name: PHYSICS OF PLASMAS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The pre-filamentation regime of propagation of a short and intense laser pulse in the atmosphere is considered. Spatiotemporal self-focusing dynamics of the laser beam are investigated by calculating the coupled differential equations for spot size, pulse length, phase, curvature, and chirp functions of a Gaussian laser pulse via a variational technique. The effect of initial curvature parameter on the propagation of the laser pulse is taken into consideration. A method relying on the adjustment of the initial curvature parameter can expand the filamentation distance of a laser beam of given power and chirp is proposed. (C) 2013 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4795305]