title: Role of dispersion in multiple-collapse dynamics.
abstract: The multiple-collapse dynamics of ultrashort pulses along the propagation direction are investigated under conditions of both normal and anomalous group-velocity dispersion (GVD). In the anomalous-GVD regime we find that collapse events can occur at locations in the medium many diffraction lengths beyond the initial collapse point, in contrast with the normal-GVD regime in which multiple collapse occurs within a diffraction length. Numerical simulations of a modified nonlinear envelope equation are found to be in good qualitative agreement with the observed lengths of the filaments.
authors.affiliation: School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Moll
authors.forename: Alexander L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Gaeta