Laser beam self-symmetrization in air in the multifilamentation regime. (14th May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Milián, C; Jukna, V; Couairon, A; Houard, A; Forestier, B; Carbonnel, J; Liu, Y; Prade, B; Mysyrowicz, A
• Is Part Of: Journal of physics. Volume 48:Number 9(2015:May 01)
• Page Start: 35
• Page End: 479
• Publication Date: 2015-05-14
• Subjects: Atoms -- Periodicals; Molecules -- Periodicals; Optics -- Periodicals; Nuclear physics -- Periodicals; 539.6
• DOI: 10.1088/0953-4075/48/9/094013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0953-4075

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p>We show experimental and numerical evidence of spontaneous self-symmetrization of focused laser beams experiencing multi-filamentation in air. The symmetrization effect is observed as the multiple filaments generated prior to focus approach the focal volume. This phenomenon is attributed to the nonlinear interactions amongst the different parts of the beam mediated by the optical Kerr effect, which leads to a symmetric redistribution of the wave vectors even when the beam consists of a bundle of many filaments.</p> </abstract>