Beam guiding and focusing have been observed for CO2 laser propagation in a high‐density low‐temperature annular plasma. A TEA laser was fired along the axis of a cylindrical plasma column of densities in the 1016–1017‐cm−3 range. Several radial density profiles were investigated. Beam guiding and focusing were observed when the density had a minimum on the axis. A density maximum on‐axis refracted the beam toward the tube walls, and intense ``hot spots'' resulting from apparent filamentation inside the plasma were recorded.
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© 1973 American Institute of Physics.
1973
American Institute of Physics
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