Femtosecond filamentation induced fluorescence technique for atmospheric sensing

Recent progress in filament-induced atmospheric sensing is reviewed. Self-guided propagation of ultrashort laser pulses in air induces laser filamentation. All molecules in the path of a filament can be dissociated into highly excited fragments, resulting in emission of characteristic fluorescence spectra. The fluorescence spectra provide information about the various molecules in the filaments. By using a filament-induced “fingerprinting” fluorescence technique, molecules in the atmosphere can be identified.