Guiding of intense laser beams in highly ionized plasma columns generated by a fast capillary discharge.

We have demonstrated the guiding of laser pulses with peak intensities up to 2.2 x 10(17) W/cm(2) in a 5.5 cm long plasma column containing highly charged Ar ions generated by a fast capillary discharge. A rapid discharge-driven hydrodynamic compression guides progressively lower order modes through a plasma with increasing density and degree of ionization, until the guide collapses on axis. The lowest order mode (FWHM approximately 50 microm) is guided with 75% transmission efficiency shortly before the plasma reaches the conditions for lasing in Ne-like Ar. The subsequent rapid plasma expansion forms a significantly leakier and more absorbent guide.