Physics and applications of atmospheric nonlinear optics and filamentation.
We review the properties and applications of ultrashort laser pulses in the atmosphere, with a particular focus on filamentation. Filamentation is a non-linear propagation regime specific of ultrashort and ultraintense laser pulses in the atmosphere. Typical applications include remote sensing of atmospheric gases and aerosols, lightning control, laser-induced spectroscopy, coherent anti-stokes Raman scattering, and the generation of sub-THz radiation.
Kasparian
Jérôme
J
GAP, Université de Genève, 20 rue de l'Ecole de Médecine, CH-1211 Genève, Switzerland. jkaspari@lasim.univ-lyon1.fr
Wolf
Jean-Pierre
JP
D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D007834:Lasers; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D055095:Optics and Photonics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010825:Physics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*