${\ensuremath{\chi}}^{(5)}$ susceptibility stabilizes the propagation of ultrashort laser pulses in air

Rapid Communication

$χ^{(5)}$ susceptibility stabilizes the propagation of ultrashort laser pulses in air

Antoine Vinçotte and Luc Bergé

Phys. Rev. A 70, 061802(R) – Published 13 December 2004

Abstract

The influence of higher-order optical nonlinearities on the self-guiding of femtosecond pulses in the atmosphere is investigated theoretically. $χ^{(5)}$ susceptibility, even small, is shown to significantly affect the propagation dynamics and enhance the robustness of femtosecond filaments by lowering the threshold intensity at which the beam saturates and by enlarging the self-channeling range.