Open AccessDirect observation of pulse dynamics and self-compression along a femtosecond filament
Author(s) -
Martin Kretschmar,
Carsten Brée,
Tamás Nagy,
Ayhan Demircan,
Heiko G. Kurz,
Uwe Morgner,
Milutin Kovačev
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.22.022905
Subject(s) - filamentation , femtosecond , optics , pulse compression , femtosecond pulse shaping , protein filament , pulse (music) , self phase modulation , multiphoton intrapulse interference phase scan , bandwidth limited pulse , materials science , ultrashort pulse , compression (physics) , pulse shaping , femtosecond pulse , nonlinear optics , laser , physics , telecommunications , radar , detector , computer science , composite material
We report on the direct experimental observation of pulse-splitting dynamics along a femtosecond filament. The fundamental pulse experiences a significant self-shortening during the propagation leading to pulse durations of 5.3 fs, corresponding to sub-3 cycles, which is measured without external pulse compression. A compression factor of eight could be achieved in a single filamentary stage. Theoretical modeling of the fundamental pulse propagation confirms our observed pulse structures and durations and gives further insight into the nonlinear dynamics during filamentation.