Nonlinear propagation dynamics of continuous wave and ultrashort pulses in a hollow waveguide

Summary form only given. Recent studies have shown that the use of a hollow waveguide filled with a noble gas is an effective technique to extend the interaction length of nonlinear optical processes with high-energy pulses. Operation at these high powers raises the possibility of self-focusing in the hollow waveguide, and its effect on these nonlinear processes is of concern. Self-focusing in waveguides has been studied theoretically using a perturbative coupled-mode theory. It is apparent from this steady-state analysis that self-focusing in the waveguide is manifested as a transfer of radiation from the fundamental mode to higher-order modes.