ABSTRACT
In a single shot, we measure the full propagation path, including the evolution to pulse collapse, of a high power femtosecond laser pulse propagating in air. Our technique enables examination of the effect of parameters that fluctuate on a shot-to-shot basis, such as pulse energy, pulse duration, and air turbulence-induced refractive index perturbations. We find that even in lab air over relatively short propagation distances, turbulence plays a significant role in determining the location of pulse collapse.
ABSTRACT
We demonstrate the successful stabilization of type II chaos of a multimode, intracavity frequency doubled, diode-pumped Nd:YAG (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet) laser in experiment using an adaptive proportional feedback control. The two orthogonal polarized infrared intensities are fed back to the injection current of the pump diode. The stability properties of the stabilized unstable fixed points are investigated and exploited to explain the performance of our control scheme and to determine suitable measurement signals for the feedback control.
