Open AccessGeneration of an air laser at extended distances by femtosecond laser filamentation with telescope optics
Author(s) -
Chenrui Jing,
Haisu Zhang,
Wei Chu,
Hongqiang Xie,
Jielei Ni,
Bin Zeng,
Guihua Liu,
Jinping Yao,
Huailiang Xu,
Ya Cheng,
Zhizhan Xu
Publication year - 2014
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.22.003151
Subject(s) - filamentation , lasing threshold , femtosecond , optics , laser , materials science , spectroscopy , gain switching , lens (geology) , sapphire , optoelectronics , physics , quantum mechanics
We present the generation of self-induced-white-light-seeded lasing action of nitrogen molecules in air by a Ti:sapphire femtosecond laser (800 nm, 5.5 mJ) and demonstrate that such lasing action is strongly influenced by external focusing conditions. It is found that the self-seeded lasing signal of N(2)(+) at ~391 nm decreases dramatically by orders of magnitude and ultimately disappears when the focal length of an external lens increases from 0.5 m to 1 m. By using a telescope, it is shown that such limitation can be overcome and the 391 nm lasing can be controlled to occur at remotely designated distance, providing a possibility for practical applications in standoff spectroscopy.