Simple analytic expressions are derived that describe the propagation of a Gaussian high-power laser pulse subject to ionization defocusing in a gas. The analysis is based on the paraxial-ray equation and the Coulomb-barrier model for optical field ionization. Good agreement with recent experimental data is obtained without an adjustable parameter. Experimental observations relevant to high-power pulse propagation follow naturally from the theory.
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Ernst E. Fill (1994) studied this question.