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-intensity 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 the beam in the exit plane of the waveguide are presented. Guiding of laser pulses with a peak input intensity of greater than 10 ¹⁶ W cm ^-2 was observed for 20 and 40 mm long waveguides with pulse energy transmissions of approximately 90% and 80%, respectively. The proportion of energy coupled into the waveguide and the propagation loss were determined to be (96 ± 2)% and (4 ± 1) m ^-1. More than 10 ³ laser pulses were guided through the same capillary.