Multi-parameter characterization of the longitudinal plasma profile of a filament: a comparative study

The longitudinal plasma profile of a laboratory scale filament induced by the propagation of an intense femtosecond laser pulse in air was measured simultaneously by three different methods. Each of them is based on a specific property of the filament, including electromagnetic pulse emission, backward emitted nitrogen fluorescence, and acoustic wave generation. Although each of above methods has been separately reported, it is the first time that a simultaneous multi-parameter measurement on a laser filament is presented. Such multiparameter measurement allows a direct comparison between the different methods, and a better understating of the dynamics of a filament from its generation through multi-photon/tunnel ionization (MPI/TI) to its damping through acoustic wave emission. The advantages as well as drawbacks of each method are analyzed in a comparative way. PACS 42.65.Jx; 42.68.Ay; 42.68.Wt