Open AccessLong lifetime plasma channel in air generated by multiple femtosecond laser pulses and an external electrical field
Author(s) -
Jiang Zhu,
Zhongqing Ji,
Yunpei Deng,
Jiansheng Liu,
Ruxin Li,
Zhizhan Xu
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.14.004915
Subject(s) - femtosecond , laser , plasma channel , plasma , optics , materials science , electric field , voltage , optoelectronics , physics , quantum mechanics
The lifetime of a plasma channel produced by self-guiding intense femtosecond laser pulses in air is largely prolonged by adding a high voltage electrical field in the plasma and by introducing a series of femtosecond laser pulses. An optimal lifetime value is realized through adjusting the delay among these laser pulses. The lifetime of a plasma channel is greatly enhanced to 350 ns by using four sequential intense 100fs(FWHM) laser pulses with an external electrical field of about 350kV/m, which proves the feasibility of prolonging the lifetime of plasma by adding an external electrical field and employing multiple laser pulses.