Eur. Phys. J. D 6, 383-396 (1999)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s100530050322

Numerical simulations of the nonlinear propagation of femtosecond optical pulses in gases

¹ Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Pisa, Piazza Torricelli 2, 56100 Pisa, Italy
² Laboratoire d'Optique Appliquée, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 7639, ENSTA-Ecole Polytechnique 91761 Palaiseau Cedex, France
³ Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, DPTA, BP 27, 91680 Bruyères-le-Châtel, France

Received: 19 June 1998
Revised: 14 January 1999
Published online: 15 June 1999

Abstract

A two-dimensional axisymmetric model of the propagation of intense femtosecond laser pulses through dispersion-free transparent media is described. The effects of diffraction, nonlinear Kerr effect (instantaneous and retarded) and multiphoton ionisation are included. Numerical results concerning air and other gases are discussed. In particular, time self-compression of femtosecond pulses is predicted. Stable self-guided pulses are simulated, in agreement with recent experimental observations. 42.65.-k Nonlinear optics 52.35.Mw Nonlinear waves and nonlinear wave propagation (including parametric effects, mode coupling, ponderomotive effects, etc.)