Time-resolved refractive index and absorption mapping of light-plasma filaments in water

TL;DR

This study uses a shadowgraphic method to analyze the dynamic changes in refractive index and absorption caused by light-induced plasma filaments in water, revealing detailed formation and evolution processes with high temporal resolution.

Contribution

It introduces a high-resolution, space-time characterization technique for plasma filaments in water, providing new insights into their formation and evolution.

Findings

Refractive index variations are mapped with 23 fs temporal resolution.

Transient absorption changes are characterized during filament formation.

The evolution of plasma channels near the nonlinear focus is observed in detail.

Abstract

By means of a quantitative shadowgraphic method, we performed a space-time characterization of the refractive index variation and transient absorption induced by a light-plasma filament generated by a 100 fs laser pulse in water. The formation and evolution of the plasma channel in the proximity of the nonlinear focus were observed with a 23 fs time resolution.