Nonlinear wave mixing and susceptibility properties of negative refractive index materials

Abstract

We present an analysis of second-order and third-order nonlinear susceptibilities and wave-mixing properties of negative refractive index materials. We show that the nonlinear susceptibilities for noncentrosymmetric and centrosymmetric media may be positive or negative and away from resonance depending on the frequency of interest relative to the resonant frequencies of the material. Manipulation of the signs of the nonlinear susceptibilities is important in the field of optics, particularly for solitons and compensation of nonlinear effects. We also show that three- and four-wave mixing can be naturally phase matched in the material.