  We experimentally investigate the impact of pulse shape on the dynamics of
laser-generated plasma in rare gases. Fast-rising triangular pulses with a
slower decay lead to early ionization of the air and depose energy more
efficiently than their temporally reversed counterparts. As a result, in both
argon and krypton, the induced shockwave as well as the plasma luminescence are
stronger. This is due to an earlier availability of free electrons to undergo
inverse Bremsstrahlung on the pulse trailing edge. Our results illustrate the
ability of adequately tailored pulse shapes to optimize the energy deposition
in gas plasmas.
