Intensity Spikes in Laser Filamentation: Diagnostics and Application

Mette B. Gaarde and Arnaud Couairon
Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 043901 – Published 20 July 2009

Abstract

We present calculations with subcycle precision of laser-driven filamentation in argon which show that the laser peak intensity can exceed the clamping intensity by a factor of 3 during recurring spikes which can last over several centimeters of propagation. The high intensity occurs during a few-femtosecond subpulse in the trailing edge of the main pulse and gives rise to isolated 500 attosecond, 2 pJ pulses which can be extracted from the filament. We also show that the high harmonic radiation emerging from the filament is an excellent diagnostic of the intensity spikes.

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  • Received 16 February 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.043901

©2009 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Mette B. Gaarde1 and Arnaud Couairon2

  • 1Department of Physics and Astronomy, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803-4001, USA
  • 2Centre de Physique Théorique, École Polytechnique, CNRS, F-91128, Palaiseau, France

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Vol. 103, Iss. 4 — 24 July 2009

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