Analysis of the dynamics of high intensity Gaussian laser beams in nonlinear de-focusing Kerr media

An approximate analytical approach is presented for analyzing the evolution of the radial intensity profile of initially Gaussian laser beams propagating in nonlinear de-focusing Kerr media. Explicit and accurate solutions are obtained describing the first stage of the evolution of high intensity beams in which the beam profile evolves into an almost flat-topped distribution, subsequently leading to the well known phenomena of wave breaking and concomitant intensity ring formation.