Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Some Fundamental Concepts of Femtosecond Laser Filamentation

  • Chapter
Progress in Ultrafast Intense Laser Science III

Part of the book series: Springer Series in Chemical Physics ((PUILS,volume 89))

Abstract

Powerful femtosecond laser pulses propagate in an apparent form of filamentation in all transparent optical media. This universal nonlinear phenomenon is currently an interesting topic of research at the forefront of applied physics and attracts more and more people to enter this field. This paper attempts to clarify some of the fundamental physics behind filamentation. The basic concepts include the slice-by-slice self-focusing, intensity clamping, white light laser generation and background energy reservoir as well as multiple filamentation competition. Some important potential applications are also discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. M. Hercher, JOSA 54, 563 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  2. J.H. Marburger, Prog. Quant. Electr. 4, 35 (1975)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Y.R. Shen, Prog. Quant. Electr. 4, 1 (1975)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. D. Strickland and G. Mourou, Opt. Commun. 56, 219 (1985)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. P. Maine, D. Strick, P. Bado, M. Pessot and G. Mourou, IEEE J. of Quant. Electron. 24, 398 (1988)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. A. Braun, G. Korn, X. Liu, D. Du, J. Squier and G. Mourou, Opt. Lett. 20, 73 (1995)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. E.T.J. Nibbering, P.F. Curley, G. Grillon, B.S. Prade, M.A. Franco, F. Salin and A. Mysyrowicz, Opt. Lett. 21, 62 (1996)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. A. Brodeur, C.Y. Chien, F.A. Ilkov, S.L. Chin, O.G. Kosareva and V.P. Kandidov, Opt. Lett. 22, 304 (1997)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. B.L. Fontaine, F. Vidal, Z. Jiang, C.Y. Chien, D. Comtois, A. Desparois, T.W. Johnston, J.-C. Kieffer, H. Pépin and H.P. Mercure, Phys. Plasma 6, 1615 (1999)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. A. Talebpour, M. Abdel-Fattah and S.L. Chin, Opt. Commun. 183, 479 (2000)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. H. Schillinger and R. Sauerbrey, Appl. Phys. B 68, 753 (1999)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. X. Mao, S.S. Mao and R.E. Russo, Appl. Phys. Lett. 82, 697 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. S.L. Chin, A. Brodeur, S. Petit, O.G. Kosareva and V.P. Kandidov, J. Nonlinear Opt. Phys. Mater. 8, 121 (1999)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. S.L. Chin, S.A. Hosseini, W. Liu, Q. Luo, F. Théberge, N. Aközbek, A. Becker, V.P. Kandidov, O.G. Kosareva and H. Schroeder, Canadian Journal of Physics 83, 863 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. M. Mlejnek, E.M. Wright and J.V. Moloney, Opt. Lett. 23, 382 (1998)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. M. Mlejnek, E.M. Wright and J.V. Moloney, IEEE J. Quant. Electron. 35, 1771 (1999)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. A.L. Gaeta, Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 3582 (2000)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. N. Aközbek, M. Scalora, C.M. Bowden and S.L. Chin, Opt. Commun. 191, 353 (2001)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. N. Aközbek, A. Iwasaki, A. Becker, M. Scalora, S.L. Chin and C.M. Bowden, Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 143901 (2002)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. J. Kasparian, R. Sauerbrey, D. Mondelain, S. Niedermeier, J. Yu, J.-P. Wolf, Y.-B. Andre, M. Franco, B. Prade, S. Tzortzakis, A. Mysyrowicz, M. Rodriguez, H. Wille and L. Wöste, Opt. Lett. 25, 1397 (2000)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. A. Brodeur and S.L. Chin, JOSA B 16, 637–650 (1999)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. J. Kasparian, R. Sauerbrey and S.L. Chin, Appl. Phys. B 71, 877 (2000)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. C.P. Hauri, W. Kornelis, F.W. Helbing, A. Heinrich, A. Couairon, A. Mysyrowicz, J. Biegert and U. Keller, Appl. Phys. B 79, 673 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. X. Chen, Y. Leng, J. Liu, Y. Zhu, R. Li and Z. Xu, Opt. Commun. 259, 331 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. J. Kasparian, M. Rodriguez, G. Méjean, J. Yu, E. Salmon, H. Wille, R. Bourayou, S. Frey, Y.-B. André, A. Mysyrowicz, R. Sauerbrey, J.-P. Wolf and L. Wöste, Science 301, 61 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. J.-F. Gravel, Q. Luo, D. Boudreau, X.P. Tang and S.L. Chin, Anal. Chem. 76, 4799 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Q. Luo, H.L. Xu, S.A. Hosseini, J.-F. Daigle, F. Théberge, M. Sharifi and S.L. Chin, Appl. Phys. B 82, 105 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  28. K.M. Davis, K. Miura, N. Sugimoto and K. Hirao, Opt. Lett. 21, 1729 (1996)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  29. A. Saliminia, N.T. Nguyen, M.-C. Nadeau, S. Petit, S.L. Chin and R. Vallée, J. Appl. Phys. 93, 3724 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  30. S. Tzortzakis, L. Sudrie, M. Franco, B. Prade, A. Mysyrowicz, A. Couairon and L. Bergé, Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 213902 (2001)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  31. Y.R. Shen, The Principles of Nonlinear Optics (Wiley, New York, 1984)

    Google Scholar 

  32. R.W. Boyd, Nonlinear Optics (Academic Press, Boston, 2003)

    Google Scholar 

  33. C. Ruiz, J.S. Román, C. Méndez, V. Díaz, L. Plaja, I. Arias and L. Roso, Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 053905 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  34. V.I. Talanov, JETP 11, 199 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  35. S.L. Chin, From multiphoton to tunnel ionization, in S.H. Lin, A.A. Villaeys and Y. Fujimura, eds., Advances in Multiphoton Processes and Spectroscopy (World Scientific, Singapore, 2004), p. 249

    Google Scholar 

  36. A. Brodeur and S.L. Chin, Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 4406 (1998)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  37. V.P. Kandidov, O.G. Kosareva, I.S. Golubtsov, W. Liu, A. Becker, N. Aközbek, C.M. Bowden and S.L. Chin, Appl. Phys. B 77, 149 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  38. W. Liu, O.G. Kosareva, I.S. Golubtsov, A. Iwasaki, A. Becker, V.P. Kandidov and S. L. Chin, Appl. Phys. B 76, 215 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  39. K.D. Moll, A.L. Gaeta and G. Fibich, Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 203902 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  40. A. Talebpour, J. Yang and S.L. Chin, Opt. Commun. 163, 29 (1999)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  41. A. Becker, N. Aközbek, K. Vijayalakshmi, E. Oral, C.M. Bowden and S.L.Chin, Appl. Phys. B 73, 287 (2001)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  42. W. Liu, S. Petit, A. Becker, N. Aközbek, C.M. Bowden and S.L. Chin, Opt. Commun. 202, 189 (2002)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  43. H.R. Lange, A. Chiron, J.-F. Ripoche, A. Mysyrowicz, P. Breger and P. Agostini, Phys. Rev. Lett. 81, 1611 (1998)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  44. S. Tzortzakis, B. Prade, M. Franco and A. Mysyrowicz, Opt. Commun. 181, 123 (2000)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  45. C.Y. Chien, B.L. Fontaine, A. Desparois, Z. Jiang, T.W. Johnston, J.C. Kieffer, H. Pépin, F. Vidal and H.P. Mercure, Opt. Lett. 25, 578 (2000)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  46. Q. Sun, H. Jiang, Y. Liu, Z. Wu, H. Yang and Q. Gong, Opt. Lett. 30, 320 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  47. S.L. Chin, S. Petit, F. Borne and K. Miyazaki, Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 38, L126 (1999)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  48. R.R. Alfano, The Supercontinuum Laser Source (Springer, Berlin, 1989)

    Google Scholar 

  49. O.G. Kosareva, V.P. Kandidov, A. Brodeur, C.Y. Chien and S.L. Chin, Opt. Lett. 22, 1332 (1997)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  50. F. Courvoisier, V. Boutou, J. Kasparian, E. Salmon, G. Méjean, J. Yu and J.-P. Wolf, Appl. Phys. Lett. 83, 123 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. A. Dubietis, E. Kucinskas, G. Tamosauskas, E. Gaizauskas, M.A. Porras and P.D. Trapani, Opt. Lett. 29, 2893 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  52. M. Kolesik and J.V. Moloney, Opt. Lett. 29, 590 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  53. S. Skupin, L. Bergé, U. Peschel and F. Lederer, Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 023901 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  54. W. Liu, J.-F. Gravel, F. Théberge, A. Becker and S.L. Chin, Appl. Phys. B 80, 857 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  55. W. Liu, F. Théberge, E. Arevalo, J.-F. Gravel, A. Becker and S. L. Chin, Opt. Lett. Accepted (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  56. V.P. Kandidov, O.G. Kosareva and A.A. Koltuna, Quantum Electron. 33, 69 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  57. S.L. Chin, N. Akozbek, A. Proulx, S. Petit and C.M. Bowden, Opt. Commun. 188, 181 (2001)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  58. S.L. Chin, S. Petit, W. Liu, A. Iwasaki, M.-C. Nadeau, V.P. Kandidov, O.G. Kosareva and K.Y. Andrianov, Opt. Commun. 210, 329 (2002)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  59. A. Talebpour, S. Petit and S.L. Chin, Opt. Commun. 171, 285 (1999)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  60. Z. Wu, H. Jiang, L. Luo, H. Guo, H. Yang and Q. Gong, Opt. Lett. 27, 448 (2002)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  61. W. Liu, S.L. Chin, O.G. Kosareva, I.S. Golubtsov and V.P. Kandidov, Opt. Commun. 225, 193 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  62. W. Liu, Q. Luo, F. Théberge, H.L. Xu, S.A. Hosseini, S.M. Sarifi and S.L. Chin, Appl. Phys. B 82, 373 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  63. V.I. Bespalov and V.I. Talanov, JETP Lett. 3, 307 (1966)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  64. S.L. Chin, A. Talebpour, J. Yang, S. Petit, V.P. Kandidov, O.G. Kosareva and M.P. Tamarov, Appl. Phys. B 74, 67 (2002)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  65. S.A. Hosseini, Q. Luo, B. Ferland, W. Liu, S.L. Chin, O.G. Kosareva, N.A. Panov, N. Aközbek and V.P. Kandidov, Phys. Rev. A 70, 033802 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  66. Q. Luo, S.A. Hosseini, W. Liu, J.-F. Gravel, O.G. Kosareva, N.A. Panov, N. Aközbek, V.P. Kandidov, G. Roy and S.L. Chin, Appl. Phys. B 80, 35 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  67. O.G. Kosareva, N.A. Panov, N. Akozbek, V.P. Kandidov, Q. Luo, S.A. Hosseini, W. Liu, J.-F. Gravel, G. Roy and S.L. Chin, Appl. Phys. B 82, 111 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  68. M. Mlejnek, M. Kolesik, J.V. Moloney and E.M. Wright, Phys. Rev. Lett. 83, 2938 (1999)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  69. S. Tzortzakis, L. Bergé, A. Couairon, M. Franco, B. Prade and A. Mysyrowicz, Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 5470 (2001)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  70. L. Bergé, S. Skupin, G. Méjean, J. Kasparian, J. Yu, S. Frey, E. Salmon and J.P. Wolf, Physica Scripta T107, 135 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  71. Dubietis, G. Tamosauskas, G. Fibich and B. Ilan, Opt. Lett. 29, 1126 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  72. S. Carrasco, S. Polyakov, H. Kim, L. Jankovic, G.I. Stegeman, J.P. Torres, L. Torner, M. Katz and D. Eger, Phys. Rev. E 67, 046616 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  73. W. Liu, S.A. Hosseini, Q. Luo, B. Ferland, S.L. Chin, O.G. Kosareva, N.A. Panov and V.P. Kandidov, New Journal of Physics 6, 6 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  74. M. Rodriguez, R. Bourayou, G. Méjean, J. Kasparian, J. Yu, E. Salmon, A. Scholz, B. Stecklum, J. Eislöffel, U. Laux, A.P. Hatzes, R. Sauerbrey, L. Wöste and J.-P. Wolf, Phys. Rev. E 69, 036607 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  75. F. Théberge, W. Liu, Q. Luo and S.L. Chin, Appl. Phys. B 80, 221 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  76. N. Aközbek, A. Becker, M. Scalora, S.L. Chin and C.M. Bowden, Appl. Phys. B 77, 177 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  77. F. Théberge, N. Aközbek, W. Liu, J.-F. Gravel and S.L. Chin, Opt. Commun. 245, 399 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  78. A. Proulx, A. Talebpour, S. Petit and S.L. Chin, Opt. Commun. 174, 305 (2000)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  79. C.-C. Cheng, E.M. Wright and J.V. Moloney, Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 213001 (2001)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  80. G. Méchain, S. Tzortzakis, B. Prade, M. Franco, A. Mysyrowicz and B. Leriche, Appl. Phys. B 77, 707 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  81. A. Iwasaki, N. Aközbek, B. Ferland, Q. Luo, G. Roy, C.M. Bowden and S.L. Chin, Appl. Phys. B 76, 231 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  82. Q. Luo, S.A. Hosseini, B. Ferland and S.L. Chin, Opt. Commun. 233, 411 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  83. F. Théberge, W. Liu, S.A. Hosseini, Q. Luo, S.M. Sharifi and S.L. Chin, Appl. Phys. B 81, 131 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  84. Q. Luo, W. Liu and S.L. Chin, Appl. Phys. B 76, 337 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  85. H. Pépin, D. Comtois, F. Vidal, C.Y. Chien, A. Desparois, T.W. Johnston, J.C. Kieffer, B.L. Fontaine, F. Martin, F.A.M. Rizk, C. Potvin, P. Couture, H.P. Mercure, A. Bondiou-Clergerie, P. Lalande and I. Gallimberti, Physics of Plasma 8, 2532 (2001)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  86. M. Rodriguez, R. Sauerbrey, H. Wille, L. Wste, T. Fuji, Y.-B. Andr, A. Mysyrowicz, L. Klingbeil, K. Rethmeier, W. Kalkner, J. Kasparian, E. Salmon, J. Yu and J.-P. Wolf, Opt. Lett. 27, 772 (2002)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  87. S.L. Chin and K. Miyazaki, Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 38, 2011 (1999)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  88. D. Comtois, H. Pépin, F. Vidal, F.A.M. Rizk, C.Y. Chien, T.W. Johnston, J.-C. Kieffer, B.L. Fontaine, F. Martin, C. Potvin, P. Couture, H.P. Mercure, A. Bondiou-Clergerie, P. Lalande and I. Gallimberti, IEEE. Trans. Plasma Sci. 31, 377 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  89. S.S. Mao, F. Quéré, S. Guizard, X. Mao, R.E. Russo, G. Petite and P. Martin, Appl. Phys. A 79, 1695 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  90. V. Koubassov, J.F. Laprise, F. Théberge, E. Förster, R. Sauerbrey, B. Müller, U. Glatzel and S.L. Chin, Appl. Phys. B 79, 499 (2004)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  91. M.R. Kasaai, V. Kacham, F. Théberge and S.L. Chin, J. Non-Cryst. Solids 319, 129 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  92. N.T. Nguyen, A. Saliminia, W. Liu, S.L. Chin and R. Vallée, Opt. Lett. 28, 1591 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  93. N.T. Nguyen, A. Saliminia, S.L. Chin and R. Vallée, Proceedings of SPIE 5578, 665 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  94. C. Hauri, A. Guandalini, P. Eckle, W. Kornelis, J. Biegert and U. Keller, Opt. Express 13, 7541 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  95. A. Couairon, M. Franco, A. Mysyrowicz, J. Biegert and U. Keller, Opt. Lett. 30, 2657 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Départment de Physique, de Génie Physique and Centre d’Optique, Photonique et Laser, Université Laval, G1V 0A6, Québec, Canada

    See Leang Chin, Francis Théberge, Qi Luo & Seyed A. Hosseini

  2. Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, 300071, Tianjin, China

    Weiwei Liu

  3. International Laser Center, Physics Department, Moscow State University, 119992, Moscow , Russian Federation

    Valery P. Kandidov & Olga G. Kosareva

  4. Time Domain Corporation, Cummings Research Park, 7057 Old Madison Pike, 35806, Huntsville, AL , USA

    Neset Aközbek

  5. Max-Planck Institut für Physik komplexer Systeme, Nötnitzer Str. 38, 01187, Dresden, Germany

    Andreas Becker

  6. Laserchemie, Max Planck Institut für Quantenoptik, Hans-Kopfermann-Str. 1, 85748, Garching, Germany

    Hartmut Schroeder

Authors
  1. See Leang Chin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Weiwei Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Francis Théberge
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Qi Luo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Seyed A. Hosseini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Valery P. Kandidov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Olga G. Kosareva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Neset Aközbek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Andreas Becker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Hartmut Schroeder
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Chin, S. et al. (2008). Some Fundamental Concepts of Femtosecond Laser Filamentation. In: Progress in Ultrafast Intense Laser Science III. Springer Series in Chemical Physics, vol 89. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-73794-0_12

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation