6A1 - A new class of trapped light filaments

Abstract

A new class of self-trapped light filaments has been discovered and its properties investigated. These filaments have a very small diameter, ( <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">\sim 5 \mu</tex> ), contain a few ergs of energy, and last a very short time, ( <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">\lsim 1/ns</tex> ). Stimulated Raman emission occurs in these small filaments with high initial gain at the beginning of the filament and apparent saturation towards its end. Possible mechanisms for the creation, containment, and termination of these filaments are discussed.