We present a theoretical and experimental study of plasma optical modulation for probe lasers based on the plasma induced by pump pulses. This concept relies on two co-propagating laser pulses in carbon disulfide, where a drive laser pulse first excites plasma channels while a following carrier laser pulse is modulated by the plasma. The modulation on the probe beam can be conveniently adjusted through electron density, plasma width, propagation distance of plasma, the power of pump lasers, or the pump beam's profile.
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