Cylindrical symmetry breaking leads to multiple filamentation generation when focusing femtosecond lasers with axicons in methanol

We demonstrate that multiple filaments could be generated when focusing femtosecond laser pulses into methanol solution with an axicon. These long multiple filaments are located on the central spot and ring structures of the quasi-Bessel beam created by the axicon. Further numerical simulation reproduces the key features of the experimental observation. The outcome of simulation suggests that the cylindrical symmetry breaking in the initial beam profile could be responsible for the occurrence of multiple filamentation by using an axicon as focusing optics. Since the quasi-Bessel profile is determined by the axicon properties, the axicon has been suggested as a simple optics component to control multiple filaments.