Efficient Non-Resonant Absorption in Thin Cylindrical Targets: Experimental Evidence for Longitudinal Geometry

Experiments provide a qualitative confirmation of significant absorption of a wide electromagnetic beam propagating along a thin conducting cylinder (the diameter of the cylinder can be orders of magnitude less than the beam waist width). This new physical effect can be used for numerous applications, such as pumping of active media of short-wavelength lasers and creation of low-density channels in the lower atmosphere.