Tracing Evolution of Angle-Wavelength Spectrum along the 40-m Postfilament in Corridor Air

Abstract

Postfilamentation channel resulting from filamentation of freely propagating 744-nm, 5-mJ, 110-fs pulse in the corridor air is examined experimentally and in simulations. The longitudinal extension of postfilament was determined to be 55–95 m from the compressor output. Using single-shot angle-wavelength spectra measurements, we observed a series of red-shifted maxima in the spectrum, localized on the beam axis with the divergence below 0.5 mrad. In the range 55–70 m, the number of maxima and their red-shift increase with the distance reaching 1 μm, while the pulse duration measured by the autocorrelation technique is approximately constant. Further on, for distances larger than 70 m and up to 95 m, the propagation is characterized by the suppressed beam divergence and unchanged pulse spectrum. The pulse duration increases due to the normal air dispersion.