Patent ID: 7729044

Claim:
A method for generating output light pulses having targeted optical characteristics, said optical characteristics including at least one of a central wavelength, a spectral profile, a spatial profile, a temporal shape, an energy and a stability of the output light pulses, the method comprising the steps of: a) inputting a primary beam of light pulses in an interaction zone, said primary beam having a peak power above a self-focusing threshold in said interaction zone, thereby forming a filament therein; b) superposing a secondary beam of light pulses on at least a portion of the filament, the secondary beam interacting with the primary beam to generate the output light pulses; and c) adjusting parameters of the primary and secondary beams to obtain the targeted optical characteristics of the output light pulses, said parameters including at least one of a polarization, an energy, a chirp, a spatial profile, a temporal shape and a central wavelength of each of the primary and secondary beams, a delay between said primary and secondary beams and an angle therebetween.