Quasi-Phase-Matched Third-Harmonic Generation in a Quasi-Periodic Optical Superlattice

TLDR

Quasi-periodic structures in nonlinear crystals such as LiTaO₃ enable quasi–phase-matching for second-harmonic generation. Coupling second-harmonic and sum-frequency generation via quasi–phase-matching yields efficient direct third-harmonic generation, demonstrating that high-order harmonics can be produced in a quadratic nonlinear medium through multiple quasi–phase-matching processes.

Abstract

Quasi-periodic structure can be introduced into nonlinear optical materials such as LiTaO 3 crystals. Such structures were used for quasi–phase-matching second-harmonic generation. These materials are now shown to be able to couple second-harmonic generation and sum-frequency generation through quasi–phase-matching. The approach led to a direct third-harmonic generation with high efficiency through a coupled parametric process. The result verifies that high-order harmonics may be generated in a quadric nonlinear medium by a number of quasi–phase-matching processes, and therefore, exhibits a possible important application of quasi-periodic structure materials in nonlinear optics.