Open AccessNonlinear absorption of intense femtosecond laser radiation in air
Author(s) -
Daniil Kartashov,
A. V. Kirsanov,
A. M. Kiselev,
A. N. Stepanov,
Н. Н. Бочкарев,
Yu. N. Ponomarev,
B. A. Tikhomirov
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.14.007552
Subject(s) - femtosecond , optics , laser , absorption (acoustics) , nanosecond , materials science , radiation , electric field , dipole , ionization , atomic physics , physics , ion , quantum mechanics
A new mechanism of nonlinear absorption of intense femtosecond laser radiation in air in the intensity range I = 10(11)-10(12) W/cm(2) when the ionization is not important yet is experimentally observed and investigated. This absorption is much greater than for nanosecond pulses. A model of the nonlinear absorption based on the rotational excitation of molecules by linearly polarized ultrashort pulses through the interaction of an induced dipole moment with an electric field is developed. The observed nonlinear absorption of intense femtosecond laser radiation can play an important role in the process of propagation of such radiation in the atmosphere.