Guided-wave second-harmonic generation in a LiNbO3 nonlinear photonic crystal

We demonstrate twin-beam second-harmonic generation from telecommunications wavelengths in an optimized buried reverse proton exchanged planar waveguide made in 2D hexagonally poled LiNbO3. Experiments carried out with a nanosecond narrow-bandwidth, high-power fiber source thoroughly explored the response of the nonlinear photonic crystal device in terms of its power, wavelength, and angle tunability.     

Band structure and reflectance for a nonlinear one-dimensional photonic crystal

We consider a model for a one-dimensional photonic crystal formed by a succession of nonlinear Kerr-type equidistant spaceless interfaces immersed in a linear medium. We calculate analytically the band structure of this system as a function of the incident wave intensity, and find two main tendencies: the appearance of prohibited bands, and the separation and narrowing of these bands. We consider as well a finite version of this photonic crystal for a limited number of alternating linear and non linear set of stacks for which we calculate reflectance as a function of the electromagnetic wave intensity, band index and number of periods. A system with these features can be constructed by alternating very thin slabs of a nonlinear soft matter material with thicker solid films, which can be used to design a device to control light propagation for specific wavelength intervals and light intensities of the same propagating signal.     

Impedance matching in photonic crystal microcavities for second-harmonic generation

By numerically integrating the three-dimensional Maxwell equations in the time domain with reference to a dispersive quadratically nonlinear material, we study second-harmonic generation in planar photonic crystal microresonators. The proposed scheme allows efficient coupling of the pump radiation to the defect resonant mode. The outcoupled generated second harmonic is maximized by impedance matching the photonic crystal cavity to the output waveguide.     

Anomalous modal structure in a waveguide with a photonic crystal core

We analyze a dielectric waveguide with a photonic crystal core. Using constant frequency contour analysis, we show that the modal behavior of this structure is drastically different from that of a conventional slab waveguide. In particular, at a given frequency the lowest-order guided mode can have an odd symmetry or can have more than one nodal plane in its field distribution. Also, there exist several single-mode regions with a different modal profile in each region. Finally, a single-mode waveguide for the fundamental mode with a large core and strong confinement can be realized. All these behaviors are confirmed by our three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain simulations.     

Simultaneous optical wavelength interchange with a two-dimensional second-order nonlinear photonic crystal

We present a theoretical analysis for simultaneous optical wavelength interchange and isolation of a pair of collinear input optical signals by use of two concurrent difference-frequency-generation processes in a two-dimensional second-order nonlinear photonic crystal. We have derived a set of relations, including a general nonlinear Bragg condition, that we use to determine the parameters of the nonlinear lattice, given the input wavelengths and desired exit angles of the wavelength-interchanged outputs.     

Band structures in nonlinear photonic crystal slabs

The finite-difference time-domain method was used to analyze band structures in two-dimensional Kerr-nonlinear photonic crystal slabs. A triangular lattice of circular air rods was considered. Results show red-shifting of the band structure due to the nonlinearity and the incident intensity. The red-shift of the band gap between the first and the second bands is maximal when the air rod radius is in the range 0.2a to 0.25a, where a is the period.     

Enhanced nonlinear effects in photonic crystal fibers

Photonic crystal fibers are a new class of single-material optical fibers with wavelength-scale air holes running down the entire fiber length. Photonic crystal fibers were first developed in 1996 and have subsequently been the focus of increasing scientific and technological interest in the field of fiber optics. The manufacturing, principles, basic properties, and some applications of photonic crystal fibers are briefly described in this paper. A review of our recent work on the nonlinear effects in photonic crystal fibers is presented, and special emphasis is placed on such effects as supercontinuum generation, frequency conversion, and solitons observed when femtosecond light pulses propagate in these fibers.     

Switchable nonlinear two-dimensional ferroelectric photonic crystal

A two-dimensional photonic crystal with a system of electrodes providing interaction of the incident and transmitted light waves has been developed on the basis of an epitaxial ferroelectric BaSrTiO₃ film. Investigation of the spectral characteristics has revealed the presence of a photonic band gap near 1.5 eV. A possibility of spatial frequency reconstruction of the second-harmonic wave generated by the photonic crystal is shown. The switching efficiency is as high as 6000%.     

Highly nonlinear birefringent photonic crystal fiber

We propose an index guiding highly nonlinear birefringent photonic crystal fiber (PCF). Using a full vectorial finite element method (FEM), we investigate the key propagation characteristics of the proposed design. We demonstrate that it is possible to design a simple PCF structure configuration with a birefringence in the order of 10⁻² and a nonlinear coefficient of 49 W⁻¹ km⁻¹ at the wavelength of 1.55 μm. It is demonstrated that two zero dispersion wavelengths can be achieved by the proposed design. Bending analysis and fabrication issues are also discussed thoroughly.     

Generation of second-harmonic conical waves via nonlinear bragg diffraction

We report on the observation of second-harmonic conical waves generated in a novel geometry of the transverse excitation of an annular periodically poled nonlinear photonic structure by a fundamental Gaussian beam. We show that the conical beams are formed as a result of the higher-order nonlinear Bragg diffraction involving two parametric processes in which an ordinary fundamental wave is converted simultaneously into ordinary and extraordinary polarized second harmonics.     

Soliton-like propagation of light pulses in a nonlinear photonic crystal

On the basis of computer simulation, we analyze the dynamics of interaction of subpulses localized inside certain layers of a one-dimensional nonlinear photonic crystal. Localized subpulses are shown to move and interact like solitons. Possible scenarios of their interaction are described: a spatially periodic regime, the merging of several subpulses with similar characteristics into a single higher intensity and more slowly propagating subpulse, and the formation of an immovable pulse in a layer of the photonic crystal. To verify the results of the computer simulation and to elucidate the nature of spatially localized structures forming, a comparison with the analytical solution for a medium with cubic nonlinearity is performed.     

Optical limitation in two-dimensional nonlinear photonic crystal with triangular lattice

Optical limitation in a 2D nonlinear photonic crystal (NPC) has been studied in this Letter. Since the optical limitation is due to Bragg scattering induced by the variation of nonlinear refractive index, it is sure that the optical limitation can be realized in nonlinear photonic crystal. The light propagation characteristics in a two-dimensional nonlinear photonic crystal with triangular lattice has been calculated by using the finite-difference time-domain algorithm, which is constructed by placing certain number of nonlinear dielectric rods in a linear photonic crystal. The optical limiting effects at 1.300 and 0.504 μm have been obviously obtained for TE polarization and TM polarization, respectively.     

Third-harmonic generation via nonlinear Raman-Nath diffraction in nonlinear photonic crystal

We report on the observation of multiple third-harmonic conical waves generated in an annular periodically poled nonlinear photonic crystal. We show that the conical beams are formed as a result of the cascading effect involving two parametric processes that satisfy either the transverse and/or longitudinal phase-patching conditions. This is the first experimental observation of third-harmonic generation based on nonlinear Raman-Nath diffraction.     

Enhancing fluorescence detection with a photonic crystal structure in a total-internal-reflection configuration

In contrast to fluorescence enhancement of fluorophores embedded in a photonic crystal structure as previously reported [Appl. Phys. Lett. 75, 3605 (1999)], in this Letter we demonstrate a unique approach to forming an open microcavity using a one-dimensional photonic crystal in a total-internal-reflection geometry. This configuration opens up the possibility for enhancing fluorescence imaging and biosensing. Time-resolved fluorescence detection of fluorophores immobilized on the open cavity has been carried out. Over 20-fold fluorescence enhancement was observed.     

All-angle phase matching condition and backward second-harmonic localization in nonlinear photonic crystals

We demonstrate an isotropic phase matching in properly designed nonlinear two-dimensional photonic crystals. In addition, by combining left- and right-handed properties at the fundamental and second-harmonic frequencies, we obtain a backward second-harmonic generation. These two properties lead to an unusual second-harmonic localization effect in perfect lattice photonic crystals.     

Nonlinear Cerenkov radiation in nonlinear photonic crystal waveguides

We study nonlinear Cerenkov radiation generated from a nonlinear photonic crystal waveguide where the nonlinear susceptibility tensor is modulated by the ferroelectric domain. Nonlinear polarization driven by an incident light field may emit coherently harmonic waves at new frequencies along the direction of Cerenkov angles. Multiple radiation spots with different azimuth angles are simultaneously exhibited from such a hexagonally poled waveguide. A scattering involved nonlinear Cerenkov arc is also observed for the first time. Cerenkov radiation associated with quasi-phase matching leads to these novel nonlinear phenomena.     

Intrinsic localized modes in nonlinear photonic crystal waveguides

A discussion is given of the theory of intrinsic localized modes (ILM) for nonlinear waveguide impurities in photonic crystals. Conditions are determined for the existence of both even- and odd-parity ILM modes and kink ILM modes. A study is also made of ILM modes in a two-dimensional array of Kerr impurities.     

Self-organized periodic photonic structure in a nonchiral liquid crystal

A hybrid-aligned cell of the smectic A liquid material 8CB gives two stable director configurations, one of which is periodic and gives strong diffraction of light. This photonic lattice director profile arises from "frustration" caused by conflicting constraints imposed by the boundary conditions and the constant amplitude smectic density wave. A model is proposed which accords well with the experiment results, predicting correctly the dependence of the periodicity on the cell thickness and reproducing optical polarization microscopy results.     

Coherence and saturation properties of second-harmonic generation with a nonlinear crystal inside the laser cavity

The basic equations for second-harmonic generation including noise are derived for the case that the nonlinear crystal is put inside the laser cavity. A realistic model of a (detuned) laser with two-level atoms in single-mode operation is taken using the nonlinear theory of laser noise which describes the laser saturation effects, the phase diffusion and the intensity fluctuations. The reaction of the second-harmonic field on the fundamental field is taken into account as well as the reaction of the fundamental field on the laser. The nonlinear crystal is described by microscopic anharmonic oscillator equations (without introducing nonlinear susceptibilities by perturbation theory). The saturation of the polarization of the nonlinear medium is taken into account exactly with the only assumption that the influence of third and higher harmonics should be small. The electromagnetic field is described semiclassically by stochastic equations. In all equations, the damping is introduced simultaneously with Markoffian fluctuating forces by coupling to heatbaths. The equations are solved exactly in the stationary state without noise (the time dependent solution including noise will be presented in a subsequent paper). The most important saturation effect is a frequency shift which depends on the laser intensity.