Intensity Spikes in Laser Filamentation: Diagnostics and Application

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-6-2009

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. © 2009 The American Physical Society.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Physical Review Letters

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