Abstract
We describe second-order nonlinear optical mixing in non-birefringent, zincblende-structure materials that can be quasi-phasematched. Lack of birefringence and quasi-phasematching together allow efficient nonlinear mixing between diverse polarization states. We derive six coupled-wave equations that describe nonlinear optical mixing between the two orthogonal polarizations of the three frequencies in the second-order nonlinear interaction. The interactions of the additional polarization states can lead to apparent reduction in conversion efficiencies in optical parametric oscillators and amplifiers.
Highlights
Zincblende semiconductors such as GaAs, GaP, and ZnSe are attracting increasing attention for nonlinear optical frequency conversion
The additional polarization states participating in the nonlinear processes can affect the overall nonlinear conversion efficiency and enhance back-conversion, especially during high gain or depleted pump conditions, such as those occurring in optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) and optical parametric amplifiers (OPAs)
Quasi-phasematching has allowed efficient nonlinear optical frequency conversion in bulk, isotropic media such as zincblende semiconductors. In these non-birefringent systems, χ(2) mixing is described by six rather than three coupled-wave equations since both polarization states at each of the three frequencies can participate in the interaction
Summary
Zincblende semiconductors such as GaAs, GaP, and ZnSe are attracting increasing attention for nonlinear optical frequency conversion. Epitaxial methods of growing crystals with periodically alternating domain orientations have been developed in GaAs [2,3,4] and GaP [5, 6] These quasi-phasematched zincblende materials have been used to demonstrate secondharmonic generation (SHG) [7,8,9], optical parametric oscillation [10,11,12,13,14,15], difference frequency generation (DFG) [16,17,18,19,20] and optical parametric generation [21]. High symmetry in the nonlinear susceptibility tensor for zincblende crystals combined with the lack of birefringence allow for efficient mixing of a wide range of polarization states. The additional polarization states participating in the nonlinear processes can affect the overall nonlinear conversion efficiency and enhance back-conversion, especially during high gain or depleted pump conditions, such as those occurring in optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) and optical parametric amplifiers (OPAs)
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