Rocca, J. J., authorLarotonda, M. A., authorChilla, J. L. A., authorMarconi, Mario Carlo, authorWang, Y., authorLuther, B. M., authorAmerican Physical Society, publisher2007-01-032007-01-032004Luther, B. M., et al., Guiding of Intense Laser Beams in Highly Ionized Plasma Columns Generated by a Fast Capillary Discharge, Physical Review Letters 92, no. 23 (11 June 2004): 235002-1-235002-4.http://hdl.handle.net/10217/67857We have demonstrated the guiding of laser pulses with peak intensities up to 2.2 × 1017 W/cm2 in a 5.5 cm long plasma column containing highly charged Ar ions generated by a fast capillary discharge. A rapid discharge-driven hydrodynamic compression guides progressively lower order modes through a plasma with increasing density and degree of ionization, until the guide collapses on axis. The lowest order mode (FWHM ~50 μm) is guided with 75% transmission efficiency shortly before the plasma reaches the conditions for lasing in Ne-like Ar. The subsequent rapid plasma expansion forms a significantly leakier and more absorbent guide.born digitalarticleseng©2004 American Physical Society.Copyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.Text