Abstract

The quasi-cw “moving focus” model^[1] has had much success in treating the self-focusing of nsec pulses. For self-focusing of shorter pulses one expects that group velocity dispersion (GVD) will become increasingly important. Recent observations using weakly focused fsec pulses in noble gases have shown anomalous periodic spectral modulation in single shot continuum generation.^[2-4] Strickland and Corkum^[4] have suggested an explanation based upon an array of continuum sources, and that normal GVD results in the limitation of catastrophic self-focusing.

© 1992 IQEC