Experimental demonstration of optical guiding of a high intensity $(>{10}^{16}\mathrm{W}/{\mathrm{cm}}^2)$ laser pulse in a 1 cm long cylindrical plasma channel formed by a slow capillary discharge is presented. Optical guiding in a curved plasma $(\mathrm{radius}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{curvature}=10\mathrm{}\mathrm{cm})$ is also demonstrated. It is shown experimentally that the guiding mechanism is insensitive to laser intensity over a wide range $(\sim {10}^8–{10}^{16}\mathrm{W}/{\mathrm{cm}}^2)$. Results show guiding over $\simeq 11$ vacuum diffraction lengths in both straight and curved channels, in agreement with theory and simulation.

• Received 30 July 1996

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.77.4186