Sub-picosecond UV laser pulse filamentation in atmosphere

Summary form only. Several studies have shown recently that ultrashort infrared laser pulses propagating through atmosphere may create long plasma filaments. This effect may have important applications in laser-controlled discharges, long-range deposition of high laser intensities, and new LIDAR monitoring. Here we present an investigation of the nonlinear propagation of sub-picosecond UV laser pulses in air. We show, for the first time, that filamentation is possible with UV laser pulses as well.