Nonlinear Optics in the Filamentation Regime

2012
ISBN: 978-3-642-30929-8
Verlag: Springer

Buch, Englisch, 128 Seiten, Format (B × H): 160 mm x 241 mm, Gewicht: 389 g

Reihe: Springer Theses

This thesis provides deep insights into currently controversial questions in laser filamentation, a highly complex phenomenon involving nonlinear optical effects and plasma physics. First, based on the concrete picture of a femtosecond laser beam which self-pinches its radial intensity distribution, the thesis delivers a novel explanation for the remarkable and previously unexplained phenomenon of pulse self-compression in filaments. Moreover, the work addresses the impact of a non-adiabatic change of both nonlinearity and dispersion on such an intense femtosecond pulse transiting from a gaseous dielectric material to a solid one. Finally, and probably most importantly, the author presents a simple and highly practical theoretical approach for quantitatively estimating the influence of higher-order nonlinear optical effects in optics. These results shed new light on recent experimental observations, which are still hotly debated and may completely change our understanding of filamentation, causing a paradigm change concerning the role of higher-order nonlinearities in optics.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Brée, Carsten

Fachgebiete

• Naturwissenschaften Physik Elektromagnetismus Quantenoptik, Nichtlineare Optik, Laserphysik
• Technische Wissenschaften Sonstige Technologien | Angewandte Technik Lasertechnologie, Holographie
• Technische Wissenschaften Technik Allgemein Technische Optik, Lasertechnologie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Theoretical Foundations of Femtosecond Filamentation.- Pulse Self-Compression in Femtosecond Filaments.- Saturation and Inversion of the All-Optical Kerr Effect.