Radiation generation via non-linear optical processes during propagation of high peak and high average power fs pulses

Abstract

Compact optical sources of radiation with high average power are needed for many applications from sensing to imaging and spectroscopy. The control of non-linear effects during the propagation of intense ultra-short laser pulses in various gas allows the generation of novel very intense radiation beams which can be used for sensing and imaging. We discussed non-linear effects during ultrafast laser beam propagation in two very different interaction regimes, long distance propagation in ambient air and short distance propagation at very high intensity and in high density gas, obtained with high peak and high average power laser systems.