Focusing of second-harmonic signals with nonlinear metamaterial lenses: a biphotonic microscopy approach

Recent research on second-harmonic generation in left-handed materials has shown a light localization mechanism that originates from an all-angle phase-matching condition between counterpropagating electromagnetic modes at fundamental and double frequencies. By combining these properties with negative refraction, we propose in this Letter an original approach to the design of a second-harmonic lens. Numerical simulations demonstrate that feasible metamaterials can be tailored to operate in the visible range of frequency. These nonlinear lenses open an attractive solution for the biphotonic microscopy technique by imaging passive biological structures.