Nonlinear rovibrational polarization response of water vapor to ultrashort long-wave infrared pulses

Abstract

We study the rovibrational polarization response of water vapor using a fully correlated optical Bloch equation approach employing data from the HITRAN database. For a 10-mu m long-wave infrared pulse the resulting linear response is negative, with a negative nonlinear response at intermediate intensities and a positive value at higher intensities. For a model atmosphere comprised of the electronic response of argon combined with the rovibrational response of water vapor this leads to a weakened positive nonlinear response at intermediate intensities. Propagation simulations using a simplified noncorrelated approach show the resultant reduction in the peak filament intensity sustained during filamentation due to the presence of the water vapor.