Abstract
Based on the diffraction-ray representation of nonlinear propagation of laser pulses, some examples of visualization of the filamentation of high-power femtosecond laser pulses in air are considered in the form of evolutionary paths of diffraction beams and light tubes. It is ascertained that a filament is supported by the light energy of the part of the beam which is inside a beam tube with the initial peak power higher than the critical power of self-focusing. This light tube is an energy reservoir for the filament. The light beam periphery holds the diffraction-beam tube which includes the filament by means of formation of a “diffractive” waveguide.
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Original Russian Text © Yu.E. Geints, A.A. Zemlyanov, O.V. Minina, 2018, published in Optika Atmosfery i Okeana.
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Geints, Y.E., Zemlyanov, A.A. & Minina, O.V. Diffraction-Beam Optics of Filamentation: II–Diffraction-Beam Pattern of Laser Pulse Filamentation. Atmos Ocean Opt 31, 619–625 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1134/S102485601806009X
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S102485601806009X