DocumentCode :
1097292
Title :
Collisionless self-focusing of CO2 10 µm P(20) laser light in SF6
Author :
Ackerhalt, Jay R. ; Ham, D.O. ; Nowak, Andrew V. ; Phipps, Claude R., Jr. ; Thomas, Scott J.
Author_Institution :
Los Alamos National Lab., Los Alamos, NM, USA
Volume :
19
Issue :
6
fYear :
1983
fDate :
6/1/1983 12:00:00 AM
Firstpage :
1120
Lastpage :
1128
Abstract :
We develop a simple intuitive picture of the vibration-rotation structure of the SF6 molecule such that the molecular susceptibility responsible for self-focusing can be calculated. We treat the propagation dynamics by generalizing the standard steady-state Gaussian propagation equations to include the important effect of absorption in the wings of the spatial profile. By calibrating the model to absorption data at CO2 10 μm 
we find good agreement with beam waist data at the same wavelength. Absorption in the wings is dominant at low laser fluences, and the real part of the susceptibility is responsible for the defocusing-to-focusing turnover in the beam waist near 100 mJ/cm2, consistent with the interpretation of Nowak and Ham [6].
we find good agreement with beam waist data at the same wavelength. Absorption in the wings is dominant at low laser fluences, and the real part of the susceptibility is responsible for the defocusing-to-focusing turnover in the beam waist near 100 mJ/cm2, consistent with the interpretation of Nowak and Ham [6].Keywords :
Carbon dioxide lasers; Laser-beam focusing; SF6; Absorption; Gas lasers; Laboratories; Laser beams; Optical propagation; Optical pulses; Pulse measurements; Steady-state; Sulfur hexafluoride; Tail;
fLanguage :
English
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
Publisher :
ieee
ISSN :
0018-9197
Type :
jour
DOI :
10.1109/JQE.1983.1071957
Filename :
1071957
Link To Document :
