Nonlinear self-guided propagation of intense long-wave infrared (LWIR) laser pulses is of significant recent interest, as it promises high power transmission without beam breakup and multifilamentation. Central to self-guiding is the mechanism for the arrest of self-focusing collapse. Here, we show that discrete avalanche sites centered on submicron aerosols can arrest self-focusing, providing a new mechanism for self-guided propagation of moderate intensity LWIR pulses in outdoor environments. Our conclusions are supported by simulations of LWIR pulse propagation using an effective index approach that incorporates the time-resolved plasma dynamics of discrete avalanche breakdown sites.

中文翻译：

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雪崩电离介导的长波红外激光脉冲的自指导

近期，人们强烈关注长波红外（LWIR）激光脉冲的非线性自导传播，因为它有望实现高功率传输而不会发生光束破裂和复丝现象。自我指导的核心是阻止自我聚焦崩溃的机制。在这里，我们表明，以亚微米气溶胶为中心的离散雪崩位点可以阻止自聚焦，从而为在室外环境中中等强度LWIR脉冲的自导传播提供了新的机制。我们的结论得到使用有效折射率方法的LWIR脉冲传播仿真的支持，该方法结合了离散雪崩击穿部位的时间分辨等离子体动力学。