Abstract

Filamentation of femtosecond laser pulses with spatial chirp in air is investigated numerically. Spatiotemporal redistribution of energy occurs initially due to the spatial chirp and is subsequently reinforced by group-velocity dispersion and self-focusing. It induces spatiotemporal rotation of pulse, curved multiple filaments, delay of filament onset distance, and enhancement of supercontinuum generation. The method of introducing spatial chirp to the laser pulse offers a new way to control filaments’ onset, distribution, and supercontinuum enhancement, which would be very useful in their potential applications.

© 2014 Optical Society of America

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