Ionization modulation of a short intensive laser pulse

Abstract

A deformation of a short intensive laser pulse temporal profile by optical field ionization (OFI) processes is under consideration. In one-dimensional analysis at a comparatively long distance of the pulse propagation the deformation is ensured by optical field absorption in addition to the dispersion. Three-dimensional effects lead to a modulation of the temporal profile at a laser pulse penetration depth less than the Rayleigh length. The modulation originates from interaction between the pulse and the inhomogeneous dynamic plasma channel created by OFI during the laser pulse propagation. A criterion of the laser pulse `smooth' penetration into a gas undergoing ionization at a distance about Rayleigh length is offered.