Parametric solitons in two-dimensional lattices of purely nonlinear origin

We demonstrate spatial solitons via twin-beam second-harmonic generation in hexagonal lattices realized by poling lithium niobate planar waveguides. These simultons can be steered by acting on power, direction, and wavelength of the fundamental frequency input.     

Second-harmonic generation of an optical frequency comb at 1.55 microm with periodically poled lithium niobate

To expand the span of the optical frequency comb (OFC), we generated the second harmonics of an OFC at 1.55microm , using a multiperiod periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) crystal. A coupled-cavity OFC generator with an average output power of 0.2 mW was amplified and expanded with a fiber amplifier and a dispersion-flattened fiber. The fundamental OFC average power and span were 100 mW and 45 THz, respectively. The second-harmonic comb's span was 3.2 THz; however, we tuned the center frequency over 30 THz by changing the poling period. We also demonstrated that the second-harmonic comb can be used for frequency-difference measurement.     

A Doubly Resonant Photonic-Crystal Microcavity for Second-Harmonic Generation

A two-dimensional, photonic-crystal microcavity is proposed in order to achieve efficient second-harmonic generation in the third optical communication window. The simultaneous resonance conditions of the pump beam at the fundamental frequency and second-harmonic field generated inside the structure with a defect provides a considerable enhancement of the conversion efficiency. In the configuration we propose, a transverse-magnetic (TM) polarized beam resonating at the fundamental frequency generates a second-harmonic field corresponding to a transverse-electric (TE) polarized resonant mode. The design of this doubly resonant microcavity is carried out by a linear analysis to search for the resonance frequencies and calculate their field distributions. The nonlinear analysis of the second-harmonic generation is performed using a dispersive finite-difference time-domain code.     

Nonlinear optical effects in amorphous-like SiCON films

We have found that IR bicolor coherent poling of the SiCON films with the pulsed IR 200 ps laser pulses causes sufficiently high values of the second-order optical susceptibilities. The dependence of the second-order susceptibility versus the fundamental power density as well as versus the time of the optical poling and writing/fundamental beam ratios indicate on substantial role of the N / C ratio. Maximally achieved value of the second-order optical susceptibility was equal to about 9 pm / V.

In the case of our films we have shown that optimal incident angle of the writing beam with respect to the sample's surface for the achievement of optimal grating is equal to about 67°. Optimal ratio between the fundamental and writing beams was equal about 30. The grating is destroyed during the 10 min after the interruption of optical treatment.     

A novel quasi-phase-matching frequency doubling technique

A new quasi-phase-matching technique for efficient second-harmonic generation is reported. It is based on the spatial periodic modulation of the light intensity along the propagation direction, rather than the conventional spatial periodic modulation of the nonlinear optical coefficients. It can be realized by using a novel dual-channel waveguide frequency doubler structure for the desired light intensity distribution. This dual-channel waveguide device has major advantages including very small beam size, high light intensity within long nonlinear-waveguide interaction length, highly efficient second-harmonic generation, ease in fabrication of the nonlinear channel waveguides without any spatially periodic poling, and low waveguide propagation losses. The new quasi-phase-matching technique can also be applied to third-harmonic generation and other nonlinear optics processes.     

Induced Diffraction in Phase-Mismatched Second-Harmonic Generation

We show analytically that in phase-mismatched second-harmonic generation, an effective diffraction is induced at the second-harmonic （SH） frequency. Numerical simulation results agree with the analytical predictions. Compared to the case of linear propagation, the effect of the overall diffraction at the SH frequency becomes doubled due to the induced diffraction, which causes an interesting result that the SH beam width will be larger than that of the fundamental field.     

Resolution enhancement in a reflection mode near-field optical microscope by second-harmonic modulation signals

The motion of the probe tip in a near-field scanning optical microscope, dithered by vibration of a tuning fork, can modulate the reflection signal from the sample surface not only at the fundamental dithering frequency but also at its second harmonic. By lock-in amplification of these modulated signals, enhanced optical images are obtained, even with an uncoated fiber probe. In particular, accurate optical images with higher resolution are obtained when the second-harmonic signal is detected, which results from the parametric modulation of the tip-sample separation at the double frequency of the horizontal dithering motion of the tip. Using a DVD ROM with a track pitch of 0.74 mum as a test sample, we observed that the sharp edges around the pits are clearly resolved with the second-harmonic signals and obtained enhanced resolution of ~70 nm full width at half-maximum.     

Quadratic spatial soliton generation by seeded downconversion of a strong harmonic pump beam

Two-dimensional quadratic spatial solitons were generated experimentally near phase-matching conditions for type II frequency doubling in KTP by the seeding of a strong second-harmonic field with a weak input at the fundamental wavelength. The self-trapped beams were shown to be insensitive to the energy, phase, and polarization of the fundamental-frequency seed input beam.     

Nonreciprocal frequency doubling of electromagnetic waves through double resonance and Bragg reflection in photonic crystals

A computational study of the uni-directional second-harmonic generation in a one-dimensional dual photonic crystal structure made of GaAs, AlAs and SiO₂ with quadratic optical nonlinearity and material dispersion is presented. The computational approach uses a shooting method to solve nonlinear wave equations for coupled fundamental and second-harmonic fields and the invariant imbedding method to obtain the linear transmittance and group index spectra. The dual structure consists of two substructures, the conversion structure creating a strongly enhanced second-harmonic signal and the filter structure blocking the fundamental frequency field by Bragg reflection while permitting the passage of the second-harmonic field. The conversion structure is built with an elementary cell consisting of four sublayers whose thicknesses are systematically varied. Doubly resonant second-harmonic generation with very high conversion efficiency is achieved for light incident from the conversion structure side by choosing the geometrical parameters of the elementary cell optimally and controlling the band structure. A new mechanism to enhance second-harmonic generation by controlling the energy flow between the fundamental frequency and second-harmonic fields has also been found.     

Experimental evidence of spontaneous symmetry breaking in intracavity type II second-harmonic generation with triple resonance

We describe a spontaneous symmetry-breaking phenomenon between the intensities of the ordinary and extraordinary components of the fundamental field in intracavity type II harmonic generation. It is based on a triply resonant cavity containing a type II chi(2) crystal pumped at fundamental frequency omega0. The pump beam generates a second-harmonic mode at frequency 2omega0 that acts as a pump for frequency-degenerate type II parametric downconversion. Under operating conditions symmetric with respect to the ordinary and extraordinary components of the fundamental wave, we show a breaking of the symmetry of the intensities of these two waves.     

基于单块周期极化铌酸锂晶体级联三倍频的440 nm蓝光固体激光器

阐述了一种基于单块周期极化铌酸锂晶体级联三倍频实现440 nm蓝光输出的实验方案。根据周期极化铌酸锂晶体的Sellmeier方程以及倍频与和频的相位匹配条件,在一块周期极化铌酸锂晶体上设计了两段不同的极化周期,使其在同一工作温度下能分别实现倍频与和频,在先后经过倍频与和频后,实现级联三倍频输出。实验采用Nd: YAG产生的1319 nm光作为基频光,重频400 Hz,脉宽110 ns,横向和纵向光束质量因子分别为1.81和2.65。耦合进周期极化铌酸锂晶体后,出射光中检测到660 nm的红光和440 nm的蓝光。通过调整工作温度和入射基频光功率,得到2.4 mW的最大蓝光输出,此时工作温度55.5 ℃,基频光功率530 mW。实验结果验证了单块晶体实现级联三倍频440 nm蓝光输出的可行性。     

Squeezing by second-harmonic generation in a monolithic resonator

We have measured the intensity fluctuations of the second-harmonic mode generated in a MgO:LiNbO₃ external monolithic cavity pumped by a Nd:YAG laser. The cavity has mirror coatings for both the fundamental and the second-harmonic mode. We scan the cavity using the electro-optic effect of the crystal and observe that the second-harmonic beam of 2 mW exhibits a quantum noise reduction of 40(±5)%. In addition, we report on the active frequency stabilization of the monolithic device used in our squeezing experiments. Several fast tuning parameters such as the electro-optic effect, the photo-elastic effect, and the laser frequency have been investigated. With these tuning parameters the monolithic resonator can be locked on double-resonance at the phase-matching temperature, which is a prerequisit for observing squeezing in a cw-regime.     

All-optical display using photoinduced anisotropy in a bacteriorhodopsin film

Photoinduced anisotropy in a bacteriorhodopsin film using the pump-probe method was investigated. A diode-pumped second-harmonic YAG laser was used as the pump beam, and three wavelengths, at lambda = 442, 532, 655 nm, from different lasers were used as probe beams. Without the pump beam, the probe light cannot transmit the analyzer to the detector. However, because of photoinduced anisotropy, a portion of the probe light is detected when the pump beam is present. Based on this property, we demonstrate a full-color all-optical display.     

Second-order optical nonlinearity in bulk PbO/B2O3 glass

By investigating the second-harmonic generation (SHG) of the bulk PbO/B₂O₃ glass samples with different compositions after thermal poling, it was found that there was an optimal poling temperature for each sample with different compositions and there was also a relation between optimal poling temperature and glass transition temperature. At their own optimal poling temperatures, the samples had different frequency doubling efficiencies with the same applied voltage. We also found that the frequency doubling efficiency of PbO/B₂O₃ glass increased with the increase of poling voltage. An induced dipole model was proposed to explain the super-quadratic relation between the SHG intensity and the poling voltage.     

Periodically poled potassium niobate for second-harmonic generation at 463 nm

We report on the fabrication and characterization of quasi-phase-matched potassium niobate crystals for second-harmonic generation. Periodic 30-mum -pitch antiparallel ferroelectric domains are fabricated by means of poling in an electrical field. Both birefrigence and periodic phase shift of the generated second harmonic contribute to phase matching when the d(31) nonlinear optical tensor element is used. 3.8 mW of second-harmonic radiation at 463 nm is generated by frequency doubling of the output of master-oscillator power-amplifier diode laser in a 5-mm-long crystal. The measured effective nonlinear coefficient is 3.7pm/V. The measured spectral acceptance bandwidth of 0.25 nm corresponds to the theoretical value.     

Electro-optic modulation on nonlinear phase shift and fundamental transmission in quasi-phase-matched second-harmonic generation

Nonlinear phase shift and transmission experienced by a beam at the fundamental frequency during electro-optic modulated quasi-phase-matched second-harmonic generation are studied. Numerical results indicate that the nonlinear phase shift of fundamental wave shows a difference of π, while fundamental transmission is controllable only by applying a DC electric field along z-axis. The above effect can be implemented on high-contrast optical switching devices such as Mach-Zehnder push-pull device. The relationships between the characteristic (peak and dip) electric fields and the initial pump intensity are also discussed.     

Study of high-power Ka-band second-harmonic gyroklystron amplifier

The self-consistent nonlinear theory of two-cavity high-harmonic gyroklystron amplifier has been developed. The efficiency and gain of a second-harmonic gyroklystron were calculated numerically. The results obtained were used to choose the optimal parameters of the experimental second-harmonic tube. The experimental study was carried out to test high-harmonic amplifier concept. Two-cavity 35 GHz second harmonic gyroklystron with the TE₀₂₁ cavity mode has been designed and tested in pulse operation. Output power of about 260 kW with efficiency 18% and 17 dB gain have been produced at 72 kV beam voltage and 20 A beam current. Bandwidth of about 0.1% has been observed. The restriction of the output power, efficiency, and gain was caused by spurious oscillations excited in the second cavity in the TE₀₁₁ mode at the fundamental cyclotron frequency     

Enhanced second-harmonic generation from planar photonic crystals

Strongly enhanced second-harmonic generation is observed from a two-dimensional square lattice GaAs/AlGaAs photonic crystal waveguide when the fundamental beam, the second-harmonic beam, or both beams resonantly couple to a leaky eigenmode. P-polarized second-harmonic spectra are obtained for s-polarized, 150-fs pump pulses that are tuned from 5000 to 5600 cm(-1) and directed along the gamma-chi direction of the crystal for various angles of incidence. Compared with off-resonant conditions, enhancements of >1200x in the second-harmonic conversion are observed for resonant coupling of both the fundamental and the second-harmonic fields to leaky eigenmnodes. The angular and spectral positions of the peaks are in good agreement with simulations.     

Efficiency of the second-harmonic generation with the zeroth-order bessel-profile beams in uniaxial crystals

We study the efficiency of the second-harmonic generation with the zeroth-order Bessel beam (SHGzoBB) in uniaxial crystals. We show that the conversion efficiency is always less than that of the second-harmonic generation with the Gaussian beam (SHGGB). The fundamental reason relies on the fact that the advantage associated with the ??nondiffractive?? nature of the Bessel beam is not sufficient to compensate the disadvantage of its wave-vector distribution. We show that the zeroth-order Bessel beam is not the optimum beam for the second-harmonic generation in uniaxial crystals.     

Poling pattern for efficient frequency doubling of Gaussian beams

The commonly used periodic patterning for quasi phase-matching plane-waves is theoretically adequate for completely depleting and transferring a fundamental wave to its second harmonic. However, when working with Gaussian beams the conversion efficiency of such a design lacks due to the inherent Gouy phase shift and the spatially varying beam profile, yielding roughly 88?% conversion efficiency. In this paper, we study the possibility of adding a linear chirp and Gouy-phase shift compensation to the periodic poling. We demonstrate that this poling pattern enables us to achieve near-optimal frequency doubling efficiency of up to 97?%.