Propagation of Subpicosecond Laser Pulses through a Fully Ionized Plasma

Propagation of subpicosecond laser pulses through a fully ionized plasma has been studied experimentally. Measurements of the light transmitted through the plasma and of the light scattered at 90 deg to the beam show the onset and growth of relativistic filamentation. Frequency-resolved optical gating of the transmitted pulse shows motion of electrons into and out of the beam.