Fabian Niesler

Second-harmonic generation from complementary split-ring resonators

We present experiments on second-harmonic generation from arrays of magnetic split-ring resonators and arrays of complementary split-ring resonators. In both cases, the fundamental resonance is excited by the incident femtosecond laser pulses under normal incidence, leading to comparably strong second-harmonic signals. These findings are discussed in terms of Babinets principle and in terms of a recently developed microscopic classical theory that leads to good agreement regarding the relative and the absolute nonlinear signal strengths. The hydrodynamic convective contribution is found to be the dominant source of second-harmonic generation--in contrast to a previous assignment [Science 313, 502 (2006)].

Second-harmonic generation from split-ring resonators on a GaAs substrate

We study second-harmonic generation from gold split-ring resonators on a crystalline GaAs substrate. By systematically varying the relative orientation of the split-ring resonators with respect to the incident linear polarization of light and the GaAs crystallographic axes, we unambiguously identify a nonlinear contribution that originates specifically from the interplay of the local fields of the split-ring resonators and the bulk GaAs second-order nonlinear-susceptibility tensor. The experimental results are in good agreement with theoretical modeling.

Broadband terahertz generation from metamaterials

The terahertz spectral regime, ranging from about 0.1-15 THz, is one of the least explored yet most technologically transformative spectral regions. One current challenge is to develop efficient and compact terahertz emitters/detectors with a broadband and gapless spectrum that can be tailored for various pump photon energies. Here we demonstrate efficient single-cycle broadband THz generation, ranging from about 0.1-4 THz, from a thin layer of split-ring resonators with few tens of nanometers thickness by pumping at the telecommunications wavelength of 1.5 μm (200 THz). The terahertz emission arises from exciting the magnetic-dipole resonance of the split-ring resonators and quickly decreases under off-resonance pumping. This, together with pump polarization dependence and power scaling of the terahertz emission, identifies the role of optically induced nonlinear currents in split-ring resonators. We also reveal a giant sheet nonlinear susceptibility ~10(-16) m(2) V(-1) that far exceeds thin films and bulk non-centrosymmetric materials.

Metamaterial metal-based bolometers

We demonstrate metamaterial metal-based bolometers, which take advantage of resonant absorption in that a spectral and/or polarization filter can be built into the bolometer. Our proof-of-principle gold-nanostructure-based devices operate around 1.5 μm wavelength and exhibit room-temperature time constants of about 134 μs. The ultimate detectivity is limited by Johnson noise, enabling room-temperature detection of 1 nW light levels within 1 Hz bandwidth. Graded bolometer arrays might allow for integrated spectrometers with several octaves bandwidth without the need for gratings or prisms and for integrated polarization analysis without external polarization optics.

Second-harmonic optical spectroscopy on split-ring-resonator arrays.

Previous second-harmonic-generation experiments on metallic split-ring-resonator arrays have been performed at fixed fundamental laser center frequency. Here, we perform nonlinear optical spectroscopy on a first set of samples, revealing pronounced resonances. Furthermore, to clarify the role of higher-order split-ring resonances, we perform additional experiments on a second set of samples in which the fundamental split-ring-resonator resonance frequencies are lithographically tuned, whereas the higher-order resonances are fixed. We find that the higher-order resonances merely reabsorb the second-harmonic generation, revealing the fundamental split-ring resonance as the nonlinear source.

Optimal Second-Harmonic Generation in Split-Ring Resonator Arrays

Previous experimental measurements and numerical simulations give evidence of strong electric and magnetic field interaction between split-ring resonators in dense arrays. One can expect that such interactions have an influence on the second harmonic generation. We apply the Discontinuous Galerkin Time Domain method and the hydrodynamic Maxwell-Vlasov model to simulate the linear and nonlinear optical response from SRR arrays. The simulations show that dense placement of the constituent building blocks appears not always optimal and collective effects can lead to a significant suppression of the near fields at the fundamental frequency and, consequently, to the decrease of the SHG intensity. We demonstrate also the great role of the symmetry degree of the array layout which results in the variation of the SHG efficiency in range of two orders of magnitude.

3D printing of polymer optics

Additive manufacturing based on multiphoton polymerization [1] has set new standards for three-dimensional (3D) microfabrication [2]. Due to its sub-micrometer spatial resolution, the technique provides the surface smoothness and shape accuracy required for high-quality optical elements. Almost arbitrary shapes can be created from 3D digital models. Technological improvements have sped up our 3D printers by more than a factor 100 while preserving its accuracy and resolution [3]. High precision scan optics in combination with material research allow for fast and precise solidification of photopolymers and simultaneously secure mechanical stability, structural conformity and optically smooth surfaces. Sophisticated embedded writing strategies additionally made the fabrication time drop to a fraction allowing for the fabrication of micro-photonic components with tailored shapes in millimeter to centimeter size.

Near-field coupling and second-harmonic generation in split-ring resonator arrays

We simulate the linear and nonlinear optical response from split-ring resonator (SRR) arrays to study collective effects between the constituent SRRs that determine spectral properties of the second harmonic generation (SHG). We apply the Discontinuous Galerkin Time Domain (DGTD) method and the hydrodynamic Maxwell-Vlasov model to calculate the SHG emission. Our model is able to qualitatively reproduce and explain the non-monotonic dependence of the spectral SHG transmission measured experimentally for SRR arrays with different lattice constants [1].

Thermal nonlinearities in gold nanostructures

The plasmon resonance is found to broaden and red-shift under strong femtosecond/picosecond irradiation. Using a standard two-temperature model we find a correlation mapping the electron gas and lattice temperatures to the Drude damping coefficient.