Polarization effect during propagation of a femtosecond laser pulse in fused silica glass

The effect of polarization on the distribution of plasma in the cross-section induced by a focused femtosecond laser pulse is studied. When a femtosecond laser pulse with a Gaussian spatial distribution and linear polarization is focused into fused silica in a certain focus condition and pulse energy, the induced plasma distribution forms an ellipse at first, and then gradually evolves to an almost perfect circle. The mechanism of this change in plasma distribution is discussed. (C) 2012 Optical Society of Americahttp://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000307232100011&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=8e1609b174ce4e31116a60747a720701OpticsSCI(E)EI2ARTICLE81937-19412