Decoupling Frequencies, Amplitudes and Phases in Nonlinear Optics.

Area of Science:

• Nonlinear optics
• Quantum optics
• Laser physics

Background:

• In linear optics, light fields do not interact.
• Nonlinear optics involves light-matter interactions at high field strengths, leading to frequency mixing.
• Conventional time-domain nonlinear optics often involves coupled amplitude and phase, resulting in convolution and uncontrolled spectral changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and demonstrate a novel regime of nonlinear optical interactions without frequency mixing.
• To overcome the limitations of conventional time-domain nonlinear optics, specifically the convolution process.
• To generate light fields with unprecedented properties through controlled nonlinear interactions.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical modeling of nonlinear optical interactions in a new regime.
• Experimental validation of the proposed theoretical framework.
• Utilizing ultra-short laser pulses with broad frequency spectra.
• Employing frequency-domain nonlinear optics principles.

Main Results:

• Demonstration of a nonlinear optical regime that avoids mixing of different frequencies.
• Successful transfer of arbitrary phase functions to other frequencies linearly.
• Preservation of the general shape of the input spectrum during nonlinear interaction.
• Generation of light fields with previously inaccessible properties.

Conclusions:

• The developed frequency-domain nonlinear optics approach overcomes the shortcomings of time-domain methods.
• Arbitrary phase control is achieved across different frequencies without spectral distortion.
• A powerful application demonstrated is deep UV phase control at 207 nm using a conventional NIR pulse shaper.