Polarization-dependent filamentation of femtosecond laser pulses in synthetic diamond

The filamentation process inside of the bulk of type IIa synthetic diamond with known crystallographic orientation has been studied as a function of the polarization state of the ultrashort laser pulses with a duration of 300 fs and a wavelength of 515 nm. The transmittance of the sample was measured using a photodiode, while the micro-image of the filament was recorded on the CMOS camera perpendicular to the propagation axis of the exciting laser radiation. The dependences of the transmittance and length of the filament on the polarization azimuth show a distinct modulation over the entire range of its change.