R. Vilaseca

Second harmonic generation in a photonic crystal

Phase matched second harmonic generation is observed experimentally in a centrosymmetric crystalline lattice of dielectric spheres of optical dimensions. The inversion symmetry is broken locally at the surface of each sphere in such a way that the scattered second harmonic light interferes constructively leading to a nonvanishing macroscopic field. Phase matching of the fundamental and second harmonic waves in such periodic lattice is observed to be naturally provided by the bending of the photondispersion curve at the edge of the Bragg reflection band of a given set of lattice planes.

Second-harmonic generation in local modes of a truncated periodic structure.

We present an experimental study of the generation of second-harmonic light in a one-dimensional periodic structure truncated by the introduction of a defect in the central period. We observed an enhancement of the nonlinear interaction in the vicinity of the defect when the second-harmonic wave was excited for modes within the forbidden zone or stop band. We also observed an enhancement near the band edge, where the group velocity approaches zero. Second-harmonic generation is completely suppressed for local modes within the forbidden band other than the defect mode.

Observation of azimuthal modulational instability and formation of patterns of optical solitons in a quadratic nonlinear crystal

We report what is believed to be the first experimental demonstration of the azimuthal self-breaking of intense beams containing a vortex phase dislocation into sets of optical spatial solitons in a quadratic nonlinear material. The observations were performed in a KTP crystal.

MACS?a new high intensity cold neutron spectrometer at NIST

We describe a novel cold neutron spectrometer under development at NIST optimized for wave vector resolved spectroscopy with incident energies between 2.1 meV and 20 meV and energy resolution from 0.05 meV (Ei = 2. 1m eV) to 3.0 meV (Ei = 20 meV). By using a 1428 cm 2 double focusing PG (0 0 2) monochromator close to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) cold neutron source the instrument provides up to 5 × 10 8 neutrons cm −2 s −1 on a 8 cm 2 sample area. The measured performance is consistent with Monte Carlo simulations. The monochromating system, which includes radial collimators, three filters and a variable beam aperture, offers considerable flexibility in optimizing Q-resolution, energy resolution and intensity. The detector system will consist of an array of 20 channels which combined will subtend a solid angle of 0.2 sr. This is approximately a factor of 40 more than a conventional triple axis spectrometer. Each detector channel contains a vertically focusing double crystal analyzer system (DXAL) actuated by a single stepping motor. We find identical integrated reflectivity at approximately 10% coarser energy resolution for the 130 � mosaic double bounce analyzer as compared to a conventional 25 � analyzer at the same energy. The vertical focusing of the DXAL allows for smaller detectors for enhanced signal to noise with 8 ◦ vertical acceptance. Options for post sample collimators and filters provide flexibility in the choice of scattered beam energy and wavevector resolution.

Second-harmonic parametric scattering in ferroelectric crystals with disordered nonlinear domain structures.

We study the second-harmonic (SH) parametric processes in unpoled crystals of Strontium Barium Niobate (SBN) with disordered structures of ferroelectric domains. Such crystals allow for the simultaneous phase matching of several second-order nonlinear processes. We analyze the polarization properties of these parametric processes using two types of generation schemes: quasi-collinear SH generation and transverse SH generation. From our experimental data we determine the ratio of d(32) and d(33) components of the second order susceptibility tensor and also the statistical properties of the random structure of the SBN crystal.

Planar second-harmonic generation with noncollinear pumps in disordered media

We study experimentally the process of the second harmonic generation by two noncollinear beams in quadratic nonlinear crystals with a disordered structure of ferroelectric domains. We show that the second-harmonic radiation is emitted in the form of two cones as well as in a plane representing the cross-correlation of the two fundamental pulses. We demonstrate the implementation of this parametric process for characterisation of femtosecond pulses, enabling the estimation of pulse width, chirp, and front tilt. This is achieved through monitoring the evolution of the autocorrelation trace inside the nonlinear crystal.

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.

Active reflection via a phase-insensitive quadratic nonlinear interaction within a microcavity

The reflectivity of a microcavity filled with a quadratic nonlinear material is shown to be actively changed by the interaction of two waves. Within this microcavity, the reflection coefficient of a weak wave at the fundamental frequency is changed from almost 0% to a value in the vicinity of 100% by the simultaneous incidence of an intense wave at the second-harmonic frequency. This change in reflectivity is shown to be in a large degree insensitive to the input phase difference between the two waves.

Field localization and enhancement of phase-locked second- and third-order harmonic generation in absorbing semiconductor cavities

We predict and experimentally observe the enhancement by three orders of magnitude of phase mismatched second and third harmonic generation in a GaAs cavity at 650 and 433 nm, respectively, well above the absorption edge. Phase locking between the pump and the harmonics changes the effective dispersion of the medium and inhibits absorption. Despite hostile conditions the harmonics resonate inside the cavity and become amplified leading to relatively large conversion efficiencies. Field localization thus plays a pivotal role despite the presence of absorption, and ushers in a new class of semiconductor-based devices in the visible and uv ranges.

Subdiffraction and spatial filtering due to periodic spatial modulation of the gain-loss profile

We investigate light propagation in the materials with periodically modulated gain-loss profile in both transverse and longitudinal directions with respect to the direction of light propagation. We predict the effects of self-collimation (diffraction-free propagation) of the beams, as well as the superdiffusion (spatial frequency filtering) of the beams depending on the geometry of the gain-loss lattice, and justify the predictions by numerical simulations of the paraxial wave propagation equations.