Ksawery Kalinowski

Third-harmonic generation via broadband cascading in disordered quadratic nonlinear media

We study parametric frequency conversion in quadratic nonlinear media with disordered ferroelectric domains. We demonstrate that disorder allows realizing broadband third-harmonic generation via cascading of two second-order quasi-phase matched nonlinear processes. We analyze both spatial and polarization properties of the emitted radiation and find the results in agreement with our theoretical predictions.

Role of a localized modulation of χ(2) in Čerenkov second-harmonic generation in nonlinear bulk medium.

We study the second-harmonic generation in quadratic nonlinear media with localized spatial modulation of χ((2)) response. We demonstrate that the emission of Čerenkov second-harmonic takes place only when the fundamental beam illuminates the region of χ((2)) variation. This proves that the sharp modulation of the χ((2)) nonlinearity constitutes a sufficient condition for the emission of Čerenkov second harmonic in bulk materials. Our calculations are in excellent agreement with simple analytical approach utilizing the concept of reciprocal vectors representing the Fourier spectrum of the modulation of χ((2)).

Theoretical study of Čerenkov-type second-harmonic generation in periodically poled ferroelectric crystals

We study theoretically the Cerenkov-type second-harmonic generation by a Gaussian beam in quadratic nonlinear media with periodically reverted ferroelectric domains. In particular, we consider the role of fundamental beam width on the harmonic emission process. We show that varying the beam width of the fundamental wave not only affects the strength of the emitted Cerenkov harmonic signal but also changes the sensitivity of the emission process to wavelength tuning.

The role of ferroelectric domain structure in second harmonic generation in random quadratic media.

We study theoretically and numerically the second harmonic generation in a nonlinear crystal with random distribution of ferroelectric domains. We show that the specific features of disordered domain structure greatly affect the emission pattern of the generated harmonics. This phenomena can be used to characterize the degree of disorder in nonlinear photonic structures.

Theoretical investigations of nonlinear Raman–Nath diffraction in the frequency doubling process

We theoretically study the second-harmonic generation via nonlinear Raman–Nath diffraction in an optical medium with the spatial modulation of quadratic nonlinearity. We derive analytical equations that govern the emission properties of this nonlinear wave phenomenon. We also discuss how a substantial range of parameters such as the thickness of a nonlinear medium and the condition of a pump laser affect the strength of the emitted harmonic signals.

Tailoring Čerenkov second-harmonic generation in bulk nonlinear photonic crystal.

We investigate theoretically the Čerenkov-type second-harmonic generation in two-dimensional bulk nonlinear photonic crystal with longitudinal modulation of the χ((2)) nonlinearity. We show that in this scheme the Čerenkov radiation can be achieved simultaneously at multiple directions with comparable intensities. The angles of emission are controllable by the spatial modulation of the nonlinearity. We propose a design of the periodically poled domain pattern, which maximizes the efficiency of the second-harmonic emission.

Unified approach to Čerenkov second harmonic generation

We discuss the effect of second harmonic generation via the Čerenkov-like process in nonlinear bulk media and waveguides. We show that in both schemes the Čerenkov harmonic emission represents in fact a nonlinear Bragg diffraction process. It is therefore possible, for the first time, to describe the bulk and waveguide Čerenkov emission uniformly by considering the spatial modulation of the second-order nonlinear polarization. This is also experimentally illustrated by studying the Čerenkov second harmonic generation at the boundary of a nonlinear quadratic medium via the total internal reflection inside the nonlinear crystal.

Wavelength and position tuning of Čerenkov second-harmonic generation in optical superlattice

We study experimentally the Cerenkov second-harmonic generation in an optical superlattice formed in periodically poled lithium niobate crystal. We demonstrate strong sensitivity of the Cerenkov signal to the wavelength, diameter, and position of the incident fundamental beam. We model the observed behavior by using simple approach based on multiple interference of second harmonic signals emitted from the vicinity of the domain walls.

Second- and third-harmonic parametric scattering in disordered quadratic media

We study frequency conversion via interaction of two fundamental beams in quadratic nonlinear media with random distribution of the ferroelectric domains. We demonstrate broadband second- and third-harmonic generation, analyse both spatial and polarization properties of the emitted harmonics and show that they closely follow the theoretical predictions.

Localized measurements of physical parameters within human sperm cells obtained with wide-field interferometry

We developed a new method to identify the separate cellular compartments in the optical path delay (OPD) maps of un-labeled spermatozoa. This was conducted by comparing OPD maps of fixed, un-labeled spermatozoa to bright field images of the same cells following labeling. The labeling enabled us to identify the acrosomal and nuclear compartments in the corresponding OPD maps of the cells. We then extracted the refractive index maps of fixed cells by dividing the OPD maps of spermatozoa by the corresponding thickness maps of the same cells, obtained with AFM. Finally, the dry mass of the head, nucleus and acrosome of un-labeled immobile spermatozoa, was measured. This method provides the ability to quantitatively measure the dry mass of cellular compartments within human spermatozoa. We expect that these measurements will assist label-free selection of sperm cells for fertilization.