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Title: Plasma-assisted light bullets and wavelength scaling of laser filamentation in the long-wavelength infrared
We model laser filamentation in ZnSe in the mid-infrared (Mid-IR, wavelengths λ = 4 and 6 μm) and the long-wavelength infrared (LWIR, λ = 8 and 10 μm) using carrier-resolved unidirectional pulse propagation equations (UPPE). We predict an unprecedented propagation regime at λ = 8 μm that supports light bullets, which are spatio-temporally non-spreading electromagnetic pulses. Furthermore, in contrast to the previous report in air in the mid-IR, we predict that LWIR light bullets in solids critically rely on plasma-mediated dispersion, which dynamically evolves during multiphoton and tunneling ionization as peak plasma densities reach ρ 6.6 ×10^18 cm-3 . Finally, the plasma-assisted light bullets propagate with sub-cycle pulse durations and peak intensities I = 1.1 ×10^12 W /cm^2 , making them useful for high-harmonic generation and attosecond pulse generation.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1707237
NSF-PAR ID:
10180891
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
APS Division of Plasma Physics Meeting 2018
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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