Laser filaments generated by ultrashort pulse (USP) lasers achieve diffractionless propagation for distances surpassing the Rayleigh distance, making them highly beneficial to long-range outdoor applications. However, filaments generated by a single USP are limited to a clamped electron density, intensity, and lifetime. Here, we demonstrate how spatial and temporal engineering can overcome these limitations and enhance a variety of filament applications. We also prove the robustness of structured filaments in propagation studies on a turbulent, kilometer scale range. A strong understanding of beam engineering and generating structured filaments has the potential to improve many applications.
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