@inproceedings{8bddf35e59a64dd191d7586c37849f00,
title = "Seeded optical breakdown of molecular and noble gases",
abstract = "We report experimental results on the dual laser-pulse plasma excitation in various gases at atmospheric pressure. Dilute plasma channels generated through filamentation of ultraintense femtosecond laser pulses in air, argon, and helium are densified through the application of multi-Joule nanosecond heater pulses. Optical breakdown in atomic gases can be achieved for considerably longer delays between femtosecond and nanosecond pulses compared to that in molecular gases. The densification of the seed channel in molecular gases is always accompanied by its fragmentation into discrete bubbles, while in atomic gases the densified channel remains smooth and continuous.",
keywords = "Nonlinear optics at extreme intensities, atmospheric propagation, filamentation, optical breakdown in gases, plasma channels",
author = "Pavel Polynkin and Maik Scheller and Moloney, {Jerome V.}",
year = "2012",
doi = "10.1063/1.4739861",
language = "English (US)",
isbn = "9780735410688",
series = "AIP Conference Proceedings",
pages = "68--78",
booktitle = "International Symposium on High Power Laser Ablation 2012",
note = "9th International Symposium on High Power Laser Ablation 2012, HPLA 2012 ; Conference date: 30-04-2012 Through 03-05-2012",
}