Production of ozone and nitrogen oxides by laser filamentation

We have experimentally measured that laser filaments in air generate up to 1014, 3×1012, and 3×1013 molecules of O3, NO, and NO2, respectively. The corresponding local concentrations in the filament active volume are 1016, 3×1014, and 3×1015 cm−3, and allows efficient oxidative chemistry of nitrogen, resulting in concentrations of HNO3 in the parts per million range. The latter forming binary clusters with water, our results provide a plausible pathway for the efficient nucleation recently observed in laser filaments.