Guiding of intense laser beams in highly ionized plasma columns generated by a fast capillary discharge |
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| Authors: | Luther B M Wang Y Marconi M C Chilla J L A Larotonda M A Rocca J J |
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| Institution: | NSF ERC for Extreme Ultraviolet Science and Technology, and Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA. bml@lamar.colostate.edu |
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| Abstract: | We have demonstrated the guiding of laser pulses with peak intensities up to 2.2 x 10(17) W/cm(2) in a 5.5 cm long plasma column containing highly charged Ar ions generated by a fast capillary discharge. A rapid discharge-driven hydrodynamic compression guides progressively lower order modes through a plasma with increasing density and degree of ionization, until the guide collapses on axis. The lowest order mode (FWHM approximately 50 microm) is guided with 75% transmission efficiency shortly before the plasma reaches the conditions for lasing in Ne-like Ar. The subsequent rapid plasma expansion forms a significantly leakier and more absorbent guide. |
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