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Harmonic Nanoparticles for Regenerative Research
Published on: May 1, 2014
Nonlinear optical properties of core-shell nanocavities for enhanced second-harmonic generation
Ye Pu1, Rachel Grange, Chia-Lung Hsieh
1Optics Laboratory, School of Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, BM 4.107, Station 17, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. ye.pu@epfl.ch
Physical Review Letters
|September 28, 2010
Summary
A novel plasmonic nanocavity enhances second-harmonic generation by over 500 times, creating an efficient subwavelength coherent light source. This breakthrough utilizes the entire nanocavity volume for nonlinear optical processes.
Area of Science:
- Nonlinear optics
- Plasmonics
- Nanophotonics
Background:
- Plasmonic nanocavities traditionally enhance nonlinear optical processes at interfaces.
- Symmetry limitations in previous designs prohibited body-based enhancements.
- Even-order nonlinear optical processes were not efficiently harnessed in prior structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a nonlinear optical plasmonic core-shell nanocavity as an efficient subwavelength coherent light source.
- To utilize the entire mode volume of the nanocavity for nonlinear optical processes.
- To overcome symmetry limitations in enhancing even-order nonlinear optical effects.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a nonlinear optical plasmonic core-shell nanocavity.
- Incorporation of a noncentrosymmetric medium within the nanocavity.
- Experimental measurement of second-harmonic generation (SHG) power.
Main Results:
- Achieved over 500 times enhancement in second-harmonic radiation power.
- Demonstrated utilization of the entire mode volume for nonlinear optical processes.
- Theoretical calculations indicate a potential enhancement of over 3500 times.
Conclusions:
- The demonstrated nanocavity is an efficient subwavelength coherent light source.
- The design overcomes previous symmetry limitations for nonlinear optical enhancement.
- Significant potential for further improvement in nonlinear optical conversion efficiency exists.
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