Abstract
Optical guiding of intense laser pulses over a distance of more than 20 Rayleigh lengths in a plasma is demonstrated using a two-pulse technique. The first pulse prepares a shock-driven, axially extended radial electron density profile which guides a second pulse, injected after an optimum delay which increases with mass of the plasma ions. In the intensity range considered here (– W/), the channel is observed to support mode structure reminiscent of an optical waveguide.
- Received 19 March 1993
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.71.2409
©1993 American Physical Society