Scattering-assisted second harmonic generation of structured fundamental wave

Haigang Liu; Jun Li; Xiangling Fang; Xiaohui Zhao; Yuanlin Zheng; Xianfeng Chen

doi:10.1364/OE.24.024137

1. Introduction

Scattering phenomenon has been extensively investigated in nature. In general, scattering of light could be a detrimental effect in some fields, such as optical communication and imaging system, but it could also be beneficial in others. For instance, scattering could be used to discover structure information and physical properties of the materials relating to light-matter interaction. Not limited in linear optics, such scattering phenomenon has also been reported in processes of nonlinear frequency conversion [1–6], in which the nonlinear signal is enhanced because of the phase matching of the incident and scattered light in some special directions. The quasi-phase matching(QPM) method allows to phase match a nonlinear process in the transparency range of the nonlinear photonic crystals (NPCs) by spatially modulating its nonlinear coefficient. Since QPM proposed by Bloembergen et al. in 1962 [7], plenty of phase-matching geometries by diverse types of one- and two-dimensional NPCs, including square, hexagonal lattices, annular periodical, or even random structures [8–12] have been studied. Such special designed NPCs not only provide a method to enhance the conversion efficiency of the nonlinear signal, but also provide a platform to shape the light beam in nonlinear manner [13–19]. Moreover, the nonlinear signals also can be used to enclose the structure property of the nonlinear crystal directly. Thus it is a way to probe the structure of NPCs using optical methods [20–22]. Nevertheless, the limitations of such special structured NPCs are the complex fabrication and fixed properties. Hence, how to manipulate the nonlinear signal pattern in real time has become an urgent issue.

Considering a degenerate second harmonic generation (SHG) process, the nonlinear polarization, which serves as the source of second harmonic (SH), excited by the fundamental wave (FW) in a nonlinear medium can be expressed as $P_{2 ω} (r, t) = ∊_{0} χ^{2} (r) E_{ω}^{2} (r, t)$ , where ∊₀ is the vacuum permittivity, χ⁽²⁾ is the second-order susceptibility and E_ω is the electric field of FW. It indicates that the SHG not only relates to χ⁽²⁾, but also the structure of the incident FW. This makes it possible to manipulate the SH pattern in real time by controlling the incident FW [23–25].

In this paper we studied scattering-assisted SHG process of structured FW, whose phase front is periodically modulated. When transverse phase periodical modulated FW propagates along a homogenous second order nonlinear medium, scattering-assisted multiple-conical SH can be observed. This method provides a way to manipulate the scattering-assisted SH signal in real time and has potential applications in various nonlinear frequency conversion processes.

2. The theoretical analysis

In order to study such scattering-assisted conical SH and without loss of generality, a 5-mol%MgO:LiNbO₃ bulk crystal (10 × 1 × 10 mm³ dimensions) is used to provide an anomalous-dispersion-like condition (2k_1,o > k_2,e) at room temperature. The incident light and scattered light can be expressed as: E⃗₁ = A₁exp[−i(k⃗₁ · r⃗ − ωt)], E⃗′₁ = A′₁exp[−i(k⃗′₁ · r⃗ − ωt)], where A₁, k⃗₁ and A′₁, k⃗′₁ are amplitudes and wave vectors of the incident and scattered light, respectively. When the wavefront is phase modulated, the incident light can be written as an expansion of Fourier series:

{\vec{E}}_{1} = A_{1} \cdot \sum C_{m} \exp (- i {\vec{G}}_{m} \cdot \vec{r}) \exp [- i ({\vec{k}}_{y m} \cdot \vec{r} - ω t)]

where C_m and G_m = 2πm/Λ are the Fourier coefficients and reciprocal vectors of the FW, Λ is the period of the FW modulation. G⃗_m is perpendicular to k⃗_ym since only the transverse phase is modulated. The relation between G_m and k_ym are

G_{m}^{2} + k_{y m}^{2} = k_{1}^{2}

. The incident light and the scattered light stimulate a sum frequency polarization wave, which can be expressed as:

{\vec{P}}_{2} = ∊_{0} χ^{(2)} {\vec{E}}_{1} {\vec{E}}_{1}^{'} = ∊_{0} χ^{(2)} A_{1} A_{1}^{'} \sum C_{m} \exp [- i ({\vec{k}}_{y m} + {\vec{k}}_{1}^{'} + {\vec{G}}_{m}) \cdot \vec{r} + i 2 ω t)]

Therefore the phase-matching condition of scattering-assisted conical SHG can be written as k⃗_ym + k⃗′₁ + G⃗_m = k⃗₂, where k⃗₂ is wave vector of SH beam. If the phase of incident FW period is sharply modulated from 0 to ϕ and the duty cycle D is 0.5. The Fourier coefficients can be derived as

C_{0} = \frac{1}{2} (1 + e^{i ϕ}), C_{m} = \frac{i [cos (m π) - 1]}{2 m π} (1 - e^{i ϕ})

Note that the Fourier coefficients C_m are non-zero only for odd values of m (except C₀). The scattering-assisted conical SH intensity is proportional to the C_m, and can be expressed as I₂ = |C_m|² |χ⁽²⁾|² I₁I′₁. Where I₁, I′₁ and I₂ are the intensities of the incident light, the scattered FW, and their corresponding SHG, respectively.

3. Experiment results and discussion

In our experiment, the FW at a wavelength of 1064 nm (Nd:YAG nanosecond laser) was phase modulated by a spatial light modulator (SLM). The SLM had a resolution of 512 × 512 pixels, each with a rectangular area of 19.5 × 19.5 μm². The FW was then imaged by a 4-f system (magnification of 0.25) to imprint the modulated wavefront pattern to the onset of a χ⁽²⁾ crystal. The beam waist was reduced to 2 mm. The FW was kept as o-polarized and propagated along the y-axis of the crystal at room temperature. After the crystal, a shortpass filter was used to filter out the FW. Finally, the generated SH beam was projected on a screen in the far-field and recorded by a camera.

In order to illustrate the role of structured FW, we did a compared experiment without phase structure of the FW, see Figs. 1(a)–1(c). The type of SH interaction is e₂ − o₁o₁. Then, the phase of FW is period sharply modulated from 0 to π in 1D structure. The phase structure of the FW is illustrated in Fig. 1(d), which exhibits 1:1 duty cycle. In this situation, the Fourier coefficients become C₀ = 0 and $C_{m} = \frac{- 2 i}{m π} {[sin (\frac{m π}{2})]}^{2}$ . The scattering-assisted conical SH intensity can be express as $I_{2} = I_{1} I_{1}^{'} {| χ^{(2)} |}^{2} {[\frac{2}{m π} sin (\frac{m π}{2})]}^{2}$ , which is the same as the conical SH intensity in PPLN [2]. A set of symmetrically distributed ring-shaped SH, in which 0, ±1 and ±3 orders of SH ring in experiment, observed, as shown in Fig. 1(f). In principle, only odd order SH rings exist and the intensity is proportional to |C_m|². In fact, 0 order SH ring with a low intensity observed in experiment comes from the imperfect structure of FW. Higher order SH rings are not observed owing to the smaller Fourier coefficients.

Fig. 1 (a)(d) The phase structure of the FW. (b)(e) Phase-matching geometries of scattering-assisted conical SHG process with different structure of FW corresponding to (a)(d), respectively. (c)(f) Observed SH patterns in experiment corresponding to (a)(d), respectively.

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The evolution of SH varying with periods of FW is shown in Fig. 2. The period of the FW are 125, 83.3, 62.5 and 50 μm, respectively, corresponding to Figs. 2(a)–2(d). With decreasing of FW period, the two scattering SH ring separates in space and the distance is increasing.

Fig. 2 Photos of SH evolving with periods of the FW. (a–d) 125 μm, 83.3 μm, 62.5 μm and 50 μm, respectively.

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To accurately describe the position of scattering-assisted conical SH, parameters α and β are introduced and depicted in Fig. 1(e). Theoretical expression of the parameters can be described in the following form:

α = arc sin (\frac{{\vec{G}}_{m}}{| {\vec{k}}_{1, o} |}), β = arc cos (\frac{| {\vec{k}}_{2, e} |}{2 | {\vec{k}}_{1, o} |}) + α

The optical periods (50, 55.6, 62.5, 71.4, 83.3, 96.2, 125, 166.7 and 250 μm) were varied to measure α and β, as illustrated in Fig. 3(a), which is consistent with the theoretical calculation.

Fig. 3 (a) Angles α and β as a function of the FW period. Theoretical prediction (solid curves) and measured ones (signs) are in well agreement with each other. (b) SHG in case of FW periodic modulated from 0 to π and D=0.6. (c) FW periodic modulated from 0 to π/2 in 1D structure. (d) SHG corresponding to (c).

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A more general case of periodic 1D modulation occurs when the duty cycle is not 0.5. The Fourier coefficients can be expressed as C₀ = 2D − 1, $C_{m} = \frac{2 sin (m π D)}{m π}$ . In this case, each order of C_m is non-zero. Therefore, in experiment, the 0, ±1 and ±2 order scattering-assisted SH ring can be observed, as in Fig. 3(b) with D=0.6.

According to the analysis, scattering-assisted conical SHG with phase period sharply modulated from 0 to π exhibits similar results in PPLN analyzed in [2]. In fact, in PPLN, the simulated nonlinear polarized wave experiences an opposite phase in the two adjacent opposite domains, which is caused by the sharp modulation from +1 to −1. When the phase of FW is period sharply modulated from 0 to π along the transverse direction in a bulk medium, it excites similar nonlinear polarization wave. So it is straightforward to imagine that it will exhibit similar phenomenon in the process of SHG as that in 1D NPCs. However, there still exists some difference between these two schemes. In PPLN, the reciprocal vector of the QPM grating compensates for the wavevector mismatch between the FW and SH. But the reciprocal vector provided by the structured FW only leads to the diffraction of the FW.

Secondly, from the Fourier coefficient of Eq. (3), the value of ϕ determine the existence of C₀ and the relative value of C_m (the value of C_m are still 0 for the even values of m). The structure of FW is illustrated in Fig. 3(c) in the case of FW modulated from 0 to π/2 in 1D structure with 1:1 duty cycle. The multiple-conical SHG is depicted in Fig. 3(d) in which 0, ±1 and ±3 orders can be observed.

Furthermore, interesting phenomena happen with the phase of FW period sharply modulated from 0 to π in 2D structure. The annular phase structure of the FW is illustrated in Fig. 4(a) in which D = 0.5 and the period corresponds to 50 μm. The phase-matching geometry with radial direction reciprocal vectors is shown in Fig. 4(b). Instead of multiple ring in 1D structure of FW, the overlapping area of ±1 order rings of conical SH forms a belt region of SH [depicted in Fig. 4(c)] because of cylindrical symmetry. The inner region of the SH belt is brighter than the outer edge caused by higher SH density. There still exists SH between the center and ±1 order SH belt, which are caused by the overlapping of ±3 order conical SH ring (±3 order SH belt). As a matter of fact, the area of ±3 order SH belt is larger than ±1 order SH belt, however, only inner region of the ±3 order SH belt is observed in Fig. 4(c) because of lower SH density. In the discussed case of LiNbO₃ (and most nonlinear crystals, which are negative uniaxial ones), the scattering-assisted conical SH only can be realized in the anomalous-dispersion-like condition (2k_1,o > k_2,e). And such an anomalous-dispersion-like condition could not be satisfied along z direction in an ambient environment. Therefore, such scattering-assisted conical SH could not be observed in the annually poled ferroelectric crystal.

Fig. 4 (a) The annular phase structure of the FW. (b) Phase-matching geometries of scattering-assisted conical SHG process with annular structure of FW. (c) Observed SH belts in experiment.

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The phase modulation of the FW itself for nonlinear wave mixing features many advantages. Actually, compared to χ⁽²⁾ modulation, it is more flexible to modulate the FW itself [23, 24]. Firstly, this method does not require special sample fabrication procedures. Secondly, the FW can be controlled by an SLM in real time, whereas SHG in NPCs is fundamentally restricted by their predesigned structures. Moreover, the modulated FW can propagate along any direction of bulk nonlinear medium. This is important for efficient SHG by utilizing larger components of the χ⁽²⁾ tensor. Although the advantages of the wavefront modulation with respect to the spatial material modulation are quite obvious, there are also some drawbacks. The SLM device cannot handle with highly intense laser beams, which high conversion efficient nonlinear processes depend on. The minimum period of the structured FW is limited by the pixel size of the SLM, which in turn limits the angle of the SH radiation. These are the tradeoffs that need to be considered and coped with in experiments and future potential applications. Although the same experimental set-up is used in [24], different nonlinear processes are studied in the work in [23,24] and in this paper. The work in [23] deals with on-axis shaping the SH beam, while work in [24] deals with off-axis nonlinear Raman-Nath diffraction. In this paper, scattering-assisted second harmonic generation process of structured fundamental wave is carefully studied.

4. Conclusion

In conclusion, we studied scattering-assisted SHG process of structured FW, whose phase front is periodically modulated. In the case of 1D structure of FW, the multiple-conical SH was observed and the position measured in experiments was consistent with theoretical analysis. Extending such structured FW to 2D case, scattering-assisted SH belts were also observed in experiments. This method not only allows dynamic control of the scattering-assisted SH signal, but also has potential applications in various nonlinear frequency conversion processes, such as nonlinear Raman-Nath diffraction, nonlinear Bragg diffraction and nonlinear Cerenkov radiation, etc.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (61125503, 61235009, 11421064); The Foundation Development of Science and Technology of Shanghai (13JC1408300).

References and links

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Scattering-assisted second harmonic generation of structured fundamental wave

Abstract

1. Introduction

2. The theoretical analysis

3. Experiment results and discussion

4. Conclusion

Funding

References and links

Cited By

Figures (4)

Equations (4)

Optics Express