Change of optimum conditions of second harmonic generation of spatial limited laser beams in nonlinear crystals

Frequency doubling of spatially limited laser beams in nonlinear crystals is investigated theoretically. It was shown that the major factor, which reduces the second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency in this case, is a diaphragm aperture effect, caused by influence of extraordinary polarized laser beams. In that case a spatial shift of mutually orthogonally polarized beams of the incident waves relative to each other in perpendicular direction of wave transmission at the entry to crystals lead to increase the efficiency of SHG of limited beams.     

透射共振对二次谐波产生的增强

为了提高二次谐波产生转换效率,本文提出将一维周期光学超晶格两端贴上未被极化的厚度可以改变的非线性介质层,通过调整附加介质层的厚度来调制基频波的场,从而观察二次谐波产生转换效率的变化情况.结果表明:基频渡场可以很大程度地调制二次谐波产生;随着能量的增加,二次谐波产生转换效率增加,随着能量的减小,二次谐波产生转换效率减小;...     

Laser nonlinear-optical probing of silicon/SiO2 interfaces: Surface stress formation and relaxation

A nonlinear optical technique based on optical second harmonic generation in reflection is shown to provide information on the surface layer structure of semiconductor crystals, thin films and layered systems. The second harmonic intensity is sensitive to inhomogeneous stress in centrosymmetric materials via spatial selection rules and the appearance of an electric dipole contribution to the second order nonlinear optical susceptibility. The technique is used to monitor mechanical stress relaxation in the SiO₂/Si interface during several annealing procedures.     

Management of the orbital angular momentum of vortex beams in a quadratic nonlinear interaction

Light intensity control of the orbital angular momentum of the fundamental beam in a quadratic nonlinear process is theoretically and numerically presented. In particular we analyzed a seeded second harmonic generation process in presence of orbital angular momentum of the interacting beams due both to on axis and off axis optical vortices. Examples are proposed and discussed.     

Classical theory of sum-frequency generation by coherent nonlinear optical mixing of coherent and chaotic radiations II. Conserved statistics solution

The problem of nonlinear optical sum-frequency generation and second harmonic generation is solved by a method neglecting changes of statistics of generating radiations. It is shown here that the increase of fluctuation levels in subfrequency radiations reduces the total efficiency of the sum-frequency generation, whilst in the degenerate case the second harmonic generation is accelerated with an increasing fluctuation level in the fundamental radiation. Total efficiencies of real nonlinear processes are estimated at the end of the paper.     

Periodic,quasi‐periodic,and random quadratic nonlinear photonic crystals

Quadratic nonlinear photonic crystals are materials in which the second order susceptibility χ⁽²⁾ is spatially modulated while the linear susceptibility remains constant. These structures are significantly different than the more common photonic crystals, in which the linear susceptibility is modulated. Nonlinear processes in nonlinear photonic crystals are governed by the phase matching requirements, which are determined by the reciprocal lattice of these crystals. Therefore, the modulation of the nonlinear susceptibility enables to engineer the spatial and spectral response in various three‐wave mixing processes. It enables to support the efficient generation of new optical frequencies at multiple directions. We analyze three wave mixing processes in nonlinear photonic crystals in which the modulation is either periodic, quasi‐periodic, radially symmetric or even random. We discuss both one‐dimensional and two‐dimensional modulations. In addition to harmonic generations, we outline several new possibilities for all‐optical control of the spatial and polarization properties of optical beams in specially designed nonlinear photonic crystals.     

Optimum formation of the response of aperiodic nonlinear crystals in the process of second harmonic generation

The theory of second harmonic generation in nonlinear optical crystals that is caused by the quasiphase-matched interaction of the waves with a random domain structure is developed. The theoretical analysis is performed using the approximation of the intensity fixed within the domain length. It is shown that the developed method allows one to accurately describe the energy exchange between the interacting waves at any values of the efficiency of second harmonic generation. Within the framework of the developed theory, the so-called simulated-annealing algorithm for the formation of the response of the medium is created, which is responsible for the spectral dependence of the efficiency of the second harmonic generation with any specified profiles under conditions of energy depletion of the fundamental radiation.     

Noncollinear second harmonic generation in KDP

This paper reports experimental and analytical results on optical second harmonic generation when a noncollinear arrangement is employed. The dependence of second harmonic power on crystal length, absorption, beam radius and the angle between the two fundamental waves is obtained. Double refraction of the crystal is taken into account, but the divergence and depletion of the fundamental waves are neglected. The results of the calculations are confirmed by experiments carried out with a KDP crystal in the near field of two intersecting TEM₀₀ ruby laser beams.An extension of the theory to nonlinear interactions other than second harmonic generation - e.g. four-wave interaction - is possible.     

Peculiarities of self-action in second harmonic generation of laser radiation in nonlinear crystals

By using the generalized method of strong interaction of nonlinear waves and computer simulation, an analysis of the influence of self-action effects on second harmonic generation of an intense diverging picosecond pulse is performed. Using the approximation of strong wave interaction, an analytic solution is obtained for frequency conversion of the laser radiation taking into account the pump intensity depletion, the influence of the angular dispersion effect (ADE), and the higher nonlinearities. It is shown that the self-action effects, the ADE, and the linear phase mismatch can compensate for each other, increasing the efficiency of second harmonic generation. Optimum conditions for second harmonic generation in converging and diverging laser beams were found. An asymmetry of the angular dependence of the second harmonic intensity was experimentally observed and theoretically explained. The asymmetry is caused by the reverse energy conversion of the second harmonic into the pump by the influence of the ADE and Kerr nonlinearities.     

Generation of femtosecond laser pulses at 396 nm in K_3B_6O_(10)Cl crystal

K_3B_6O_(10)Cl(KBOC), a new nonlinear optical crystal, shows potential advantages for the generation of deep ultraviolet(UV) light compared with other borate crystals. In this paper we study for the first time the second harmonic generation(SHG) of a femtosecond Ti:sapphire amplifier with this crystal. Laser power is obtained to be as high as 220 m W at the central wavelength of 396 nm with a 1-mm-long crystal, and the maximum SHG conversion efficiency reaches 39.3%. The typical pulse duration is 83 fs. The results show that second harmonic(SH) conversion efficiency has the room to be further improved and that the new nonlinear crystal is very suited to generate the high efficiency deep ultraviolet laser radiation below 266 nm.     

Synthesis,crystal growth and characterization of novel semiorganic nonlinear optical crystal: Dichloro(beta-alanine)cadmium(II)

Semiorganic nonlinear optical material of dichloro(beta-alanine)cadmium(II) (DCBAC) have been synthesized and single crystals were grown by solvent evaporation method at room temperature. The lattice parameters of the grown crystals are determined by single crystal XRD. The modes of vibration of different molecular groups present in the sample were identified by the FTIR spectral analysis. Thermal stability of the crystal was investigated using thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The dielectric constants of the crystal were studied as a function of frequency and the results are discussed. The grown crystals are subjected to microhardness studies and the variation of the microhardness with the applied load is studied. The optical transmission spectra and second harmonic generation (SHG) were investigated to study its linear and nonlinear optical properties. The nonlinear optical (NLO) property of the crystal was confirmed by powder second harmonic generation (SHG) test. SHG efficiency is comparable to that of KDP.     

Enhancement of the second harmonic generation from monolayer WS2 coupled with a silica microsphere

Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are widely used for integrated optical and photoelectric devices. Owing to their broken inversion symmetry, monolayer TMDs have a large second-order optical nonlinearity. However, the optical second-order nonlinear conversion efficiency of monolayer TMDs is still limited by the interaction length. In this work, we theoretically study the second harmonic generation (SHG) from monolayer tungsten sulfide (WS₂) enhanced by a silica microsphere cavity. By tuning the position, size, and crystal orientation of the material, second-order nonlinear coupling can occur between the fundamental pump mode and different second harmonic cavity modes, and we obtain an optimal SHG conversion efficiency with orders of magnitude enhancement. Our work demonstrates that the microsphere cavity can significantly enhance SHG from monolayer 2D materials under flexible conditions.     

Optical properties of BiB3O6 with different phase matching orientations

Basic optical properties of the new nonlinear crystal BiB₃O₆ (BIBO) are measured for second harmonic generation (SHG) of 1064 nm radiation. These properties include the effective nonlinearities for different phase matching orientations, the corresponding acceptance bandwidths and the optical losses. Effective nonlinearities of up to 3.2 pm/V (ϕ=90°, θ=-11°) and losses of less than 0.1 %/cm at 1064 nm indicate that BIBO is a promising new nonlinear crystal for SHG of 1064 nm radiation. A two-dimensional measurement with high spatial resolution of the SHG efficiency and the optical homogeneity, clearly demonstrate the high optical quality of BIBO crystals now available. PACS 42.65.Ky; 42.70.Mp     

Theoretical analysis of the effect of coating polarization on the second harmonic generation of an Nd:YVO4/KTP laser

Jones calculus is used to analyze the effect of the polarization characteristics of the output mirror coating of a V-shaped Nd:YVO4/KTP laser on the second harmonic generation. The reflection-induced phase retardance (RIPR) of the coating can quench the second harmonic generation. When the optical axis of Nd:YVO4 makes a π/4 angle with the incident plane of the output mirror and the fast axis of KTP in the incident plane, the RIPR induced reduction of coupling factor of the second harmonic generation is less than 1% if the phase retardance is smaller than 25°. If the polarization direction of the fundamental wave coincides with the eigen-polarization directions of the incident plane, the effect of the reflection-induced phase retardance on the conversing efficiency can be avoided.     

非线性光学五十年

文章简要回顾了非线性光学的诞生以及早期的发展,包括二次谐波,激光和频和差频现象,受激拉曼散射,以及激光的一些自作用行为等,介绍了非线性光学的一些重要研究成果和应用,包括非线性光谱学,位相共轭和自适应光学,相干非线性光学以及高次谐波等,最后对非线性光学当前和未来研究热点作了总结和展望.     

Nonlinear excitation of the second harmonic in a semiconductor superlattice placed into a magnetic field

The nonlinear interaction of waves in a periodic structure placed into a magnetic field is considered. The structure is comprised of alternate semiconducting and insulating layers. The three-wave interaction technique is applied to studying the nonlinear processes. It is shown that nonlinear phenomena in media with translational symmetry and in homogeneous media differ. Conditions for the resonant interaction between the first and second harmonics are analyzed. It is found that the second harmonic is generated when the interacting first spatial harmonics both co-and counterpropagate, which is possible only in periodic structures. Resonance events improving the generation efficiency are discussed.     

Nonlinear computer-generated holograms

We propose a novel technique for arbitrary wavefront shaping in quadratic nonlinear crystals by introducing the concept of computer-generated holograms (CGHs) into the nonlinear optical regime. We demonstrate the method experimentally showing a conversion of a fundamental Gaussian beam pump light into the first three Hermite-Gaussian beams at the second harmonic in a stoichiometric lithium tantalate nonlinear crystal, and we characterize its efficiency dependence on the fundamental power and the crystal temperature. Nonlinear CGHs open new possibilities in the fields of nonlinear beam shaping, mode conversion, and beam steering.     

基于扭曲向列液晶空间光调制器的矢量光生成

基于扭曲向列型液晶空间光调制器的旋光特性, 根据空间光调制器所加电压和加载相位与旋光角度的对应关系, 设计了可以生成多种涡旋矢量光的通用光路. 利用该原理和光路系统, 在实验上生成了多种携带轴对称相位的矢量光以及图案般复杂的矢量光, 观察和检测了它们的偏振特性, 获得了较好的实验结果. 并且模拟了具有涡旋相位的矢量光的紧聚焦场, 分析了它们的紧聚焦特性. 由于这种生成矢量光的方法光路装置简单、操作容易, 产生矢量光的过程中几乎不损失能量, 并且不存在聚焦过程, 因此在如强激光矢量光束与物质相互作用、激光加速等方面具有重要的应用潜力.     

Optimum conditions for the generation of the second harmonic of intense laser radiation

A generalized approximation of strong interactions of waves is suggested for the theoretical analysis of second-harmonic generation under conditions of self-action. On the basis of the method suggested, approximate solutions for the efficiency of second-harmonic generation are obtained with regard to the influence of higher nonlinearities, depletion of pumping radiation, and linear phase mismatch. The effects of the phase mismatch and the spatial distribution of the amplitude of the fundamental harmonic on the efficiency of second harmonic generation by intense laser radiation is analyzed. The results obtained with the approximate method developed are shown to be in good agreement with known experimental data and numerical calculations. Optimum conditions for second harmonic generation are determined in a wide range of laser radiation intensity and at different spatial distributions of the fundamental harmonic amplitude.