Abstract

This paper represents the results of laser-pulse self-focusing research using the flow-field theo_ry we have proposed. The novel feature of the work reported here is the ability of our method to follow a long laser pulse through and beyond the first self-focal point. A set of symmetrical quasilinear hyperbolic equations, implemented numerically by a finite-difference version of the method of characteristics, correctly describes the establishment and development of quasistatic pulse self-focusing.

© 1991 Optical Society of America