Recollision-Induced Superradiance of Ionized Nitrogen Molecules

Yi Liu (1) , Pengji Ding (1) , Guillaume Lambert (2) , Aurélien Houard (2) , Vladimir Tikhonchuk (3) , André Mysyrowicz (2)

1 ILM - Interaction Laser-Matière
2 LOA - Laboratoire d'optique appliquée
3 CELIA - Centre d'Etudes Lasers Intenses et Applications

We propose a new mechanism to explain the origin of optical gain in the transitions between the excited and ground states of the ionized nitrogen molecule following irradiation of neutral nitrogen molecules with an intense ultrashort laser pulse. An efficient transfer of population to the excited state is achieved via field-induced multiple recollisions. We show that the proposed excitation mechanism must lead to a superradiant emission, a feature that we confirm experimentally.

Mots clés: superradiance; filamentation; laser gain; ultrashort pulses

Domaines: Optique [physics.optics]

Yi Liu, Pengji Ding, Guillaume Lambert, Aurélien Houard, Vladimir Tikhonchuk, et al.. Recollision-Induced Superradiance of Ionized Nitrogen Molecules. Physical Review Letters, 2015, 115, pp.133203. ⟨10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.133203⟩. ⟨hal-01204958⟩