High directional aerosol fluorescence distribution affected by Mie scattering during femtosecond laser filamentation in air

Backward angular distributions of the sodium fluorescence in NaCl aerosols induced by femtosecond laser fil-amentation in air with a distance of 10 m are measured. The recorded signals appear as strong angular dependence. Further study indicates that it could be associated with the Mie scattering of the filamentation-induced aerosol lasing in the forward direction. These results will benefit the remote-sensing of air pollut-ants by femtosecond laser filamentation-based LIDAR (light detection and ranging).

Automated summary

The backward angular distributions of sodium fluorescence in NaCl aerosols induced by femtosecond laser filamentation in air at a distance of 10 m were measured, and the recorded signals showed strong angular dependence. Further investigation suggested that this could be attributed to the Mie scattering of filamentation-induced aerosol lasing in the forward direction. These findings will be beneficial for remote-sensing of air pollutants using femtosecond laser filamentation-based LIDAR.