Nonlinear optical devices

Second-order devices

Devices based on the second-order nonlinearity involve three-photon (or three-wave) mixing. In this process, two photons are mixed together to create a third photon, subject to energy- and momentum-conservation constraints. Different names are ascribed to this mixing process, depending upon the relative magnitudes of the energies of the three photons. See Conservation of energy, Conservation of momentum

When the two beginning photons are of equal energy or frequency, the mixing process gives a single photon with twice the energy or frequency of the original ones. This mixing process is called second-harmonic generation. Second-harmonic generation is used often in devices where photons of visible frequency are desired but the available underlying laser system is capable of producing only infrared photons. For example, the neodymium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser produces photons in the infrared with a wavelength of 1.06 micrometers. These photons are mixed in a crystal with a large second-order nonlinearity and proper momentum-conservation characteristics to yield green second-harmonic photons of 0.532-μm wavelength. Under different momentum-conservation constraints, a similar interaction can take place between two photon fields of different frequency, resulting in photons whose energy or frequency is the sum of those of the original photons. This process is called sum-frequency mixing. See Laser

Optical parametric oscillation/amplification occurs when one of the two initial photons has the largest energy and frequency of the three. A high-energy photon and a low-energy photon mix to give a third photon with an energy equal to the difference between the two initial photons. If initially the third field amplitude is zero, it is possible to generate a third field from nothing; in this case the process is called optical parametric oscillation. If the third field exists but at a low level, it can be amplified through the optical parametric amplification process.

Third-order devices

Devices based on the third-order nonlinearity involve a process called four-photon (or four-wave) mixing. In this process, three photons are mixed together to create a fourth photon, subject to energy- and momentum-conservation constraints. The four-photon mixing nonlinearity is responsible for the existence of so-called self-action effects where the refractive index and absorption coefficient of a light field are modified by the light field's own presence, for third-harmonic generation and related processes, and for phase-conjugation processes.

In a medium with a third-order nonlinearity, the refractive index and absorption coefficient of a light field present in the medium are modified by the strength of the light intensity. Because the field effectively acts on itself, this interaction is termed a self-action effect. The momentum-conservation constraints are automatically satisfied because of the degenerate frequencies involved in the interaction. Such an interaction manifests itself by changing the total absorption experienced by the light field as well as by changing the velocity of propagation of the light field. See Absorption of electromagnetic radiation, Refraction of waves

There are many devices based on the self-action effects. A reverse saturable absorber becomes more opaque because of the nonlinear absorption (also called two-photon adsorption) that it manifests. Refractive-index changes can be used to change the transmission characteristics of resonant cavities and other structures by modifying the effective optical path length (the product of actual structure length times the effective refractive index for the structure) and shifting the cavity resonances to other frequencies. Several nonlinear optical switches have been proposed based upon this resonance-shifting phenomenon. See Optical bistability

In a third-harmonic generation process, three photons of like energy and frequency are mixed to yield a single photon with three times the energy and frequency of the initial photons. Applications of third-harmonic generation are typically in the areas of frequency upconversion.

Phase-conjugation devices make use of a property that third-order media possess whereby energy- and frequency-degenerate photons from two counterpropagating fields are mixed with an incoming photon to yield a photon with exactly the opposite propagation direction and conjugate phase. This phase-conjugate field will pass out of the nonlinear optical device in exactly the direction opposite to the incoming field. Such devices are used in phase-conjugate mirrors, mirrors which have the ability to cancel phase variation in a beam due to, for example, atmospheric turbulence. See Adaptive optics, Optical phase conjugation

The suitability of available nonlinear optical materials is a critical factor in the development of nonlinear optical devices. For certain applications, silica glass fibers may be used. Because of the long propagation distances involved in intercontinental transmission systems, the small size of the optical nonlinearity in silica is not a drawback. Other key materials are semiconductors [such as gallium arsenide (GaAs), zinc selenide (ZnSe), and indium gallium arsenide phosphide (InGaAsP)], certain organic polymeric films, hybrid materials such as semiconductor-doped glasses, and liquid crystals. See Nonlinear optics, Optical materials