Propagation of ultra-short femtosecond laser pulses in aerosols

Dennis R. Alexander, Mark L. Rohlfs

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Propagation of ultra-short femtosecond laser pulses of a few cycles of light has many new implications in communications, satellite imaging, and remote sensing. In this paper we present theoretical work on solving the problem of a femtosecond laser pulse interacting with an aerosol particle. Results indicate that diffraction effects are transient and the typical diffraction rings are reduced significantly. Experimental work has been carried out where femtosecond laser pulses of 50 and 80 femtoseconds have been transmitted through aerosol clouds of approximately 4 microns average diameter. Results indicate that the frequency spread of the femtosecond laser pulse is essentially unaltered by the aerosols even through particle concentrations of over 105 particles per cubic centimeter. Clouds through which one would need to send optical communication information would have particle concentrations of about 100 particles per centimeter cubed. Results are presented on the use of the frequency spread in the femtosecond laser pulse to perform wavelength division multiplexing using a liquid crystal spatial light modulator. The femtosecond laser pulses are multiplexed outside of the laser cavity. Recent work investigates pump probing experiments on the propagation of 5 femtosecond pulses on water. The goal is to understand the implication of nonequilibrium dielectric constants and their values during femtosecond laser pulse propagation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages1742-1744
Number of pages3
StatePublished - 2000
Event2000 Intenational Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS 2000) - Honolulu, HI, USA
Duration: Jul 24 2000Jul 28 2000

Other

Other2000 Intenational Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS 2000)
CityHonolulu, HI, USA
Period7/24/007/28/00

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Computer Science Applications
  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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