Аннотация:We present results of experimental and numerical study of controlled superfilament formation in the air by
loosely focused femtosecond IR laser pulses. Radiation from TW Ti:Sa laser (50 mJ, 50 fs, 10 Hz, 7 mm
FWHM beam) was focused by the lens with a focal length of 3 m. Pulse energy, autocorrelation trace and
spectrum were detected in each laser shot. The transverse energy density of the beam was also measured in
each laser shot by placing silica wedge 7-10 cm apart from the point of measurement along the filament and
imaging the wedge surface on the 14 bit 1024x1024 CCD. Angularly resolved spectra of radiation inside a
filament were measured by slicing a small part of radiation reflected from the first wedge by the other silica
wedge. This radiation was focused to the input slit of the home made imaging spectrometer or ACTON SP-
500i spectrometer. The home-made spectrometer possessed less spectral band in a single shot, but higher
dynamic range. ����
To trace a spatial structure of a filament and its formation we developed new diagnostics based on
wideband (MHz) acoustic transducers. Transverse spatial resolution of in vivo measurements of a filament
structure was better than 100 ����m [1]. This transducer was moved together with the first wedge along the
filament. ����
We made comparative measurements within four different regimes of a filament formation: (i) a
single filament, (ii) stochastic superfilamentation, (iii) amplitude or (iv) phase controlled
superfilamentation. In the latter case amplitude or phase (diffractive optical element [2]) was introduced
into the beam just before the main focusing lens. ����
In simulations we apply the Forward Maxwell equation with a carrier wave resolved. Our model
includes the diffraction, dispersion, Kerr nonlinearity, self-consistent ionization and transient photocurrent
of free electrons. Such the model can describe adequately the spectral transformation and energy absorption.