First demonstration of guiding of high-intensity laser pulses in a hydrogen-filled capillary discharge waveguide

The results of the first experiments to demonstrate guiding of high-intensi ty laser pulses through a hydrogen-filled capillary discharge waveguide are described. Measurements of the temporal behaviour during the discharge of both the pulse energy transmission and the transverse spatial profile of th e beam in the exit plane of the waveguide are presented. Guiding of laser p ulses with a peak input intensity of greater than 10(16) W cm(-2) was obser ved for 20 and 40 mm long waveguides with pulse energy transmissions of app roximately 90% and 80%, respectively, The proportion of energy coupled into the waveguide and the propagation loss were determined to be (96 +/- 2)% a nd (4 +/- 1) m(-1). More than 10(3) laser pulses were guided through the sa me capillary.