title: Plasma strings from ultraviolet laser filaments drive permanent structural modifications in fused silica.
abstract: Long self-trapped femtosecond ultraviolet filaments created in the bulk of pure fused silica are used to induce permanent structural changes in the medium. We monitor the laser pulse propagation as a filamentary structure and the plasma string left at its trail. We investigate and demonstrate the link of the filament-induced plasma to the permanent structural changes left in the medium. Specific electron density thresholds are found for the induced modifications.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology--Hellas (IESL-FORTH), 71110, Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Papazoglou
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zergioti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tzortzakis