Research progress of ultrafast laser industrial applications based on filamentation

Ultrafast laser filamentation is an attractive nonlinear phenomenon as a consequence of dynamic balance between Kerr self-focusing and defocusing effect in the electron plasma generated through the ionization process. Achieving the regulation of the non-diffractive ultra-long transmission will play an important role in the development of novel ultrafast laser material processing technology. In this paper, the investigation on the research of ultrafast laser industrial application based on filamentation was introduced. From the physical feature, basic mechanism and characteristic advantages of filamentation effects, the representative research achievements on the laser applications of filamentary propagation induced by gas, liquid and solid different media were presented. The development problem and prospect of the technique were also considered and discussed.