Backward Phase Matching for Second Harmonic Generation in Negative-Index Conformal Surface Plasmonic Metamaterials

Backward phase matching, which describes counterpropagating fundamental and harmonic waves in a negative-index medium, is one of the most intriguing phenomena in nonlinear metamaterials. Predicted theoretically decades ago, however, it is still a challenging task to be applied for efficient second harmonic (SH) generation in a nonlinear metamaterial with ultrathin geometry and ultralow loss. Here, a negative-index spoof plasmonic metamaterial is reported, which is composed of an ultrathin symmetrical corrugated metallic strips loaded with nonlinear active devices. The simulated and measured power spectra and surface near-field distributions show that a peak SH signal can be generated at the backward phase-matched frequency point in a 120° curved surface with high efficiency, thanks to the ultrathin flexible geometry, significant confinement effect, and large propagation length of the spoof surface plasmons. The results open new technological challenges from nano- and micro-nonlinear photonics to science and engineering of compact, broadband, and efficient frequency-mixing metamaterials and electromagnetic devices.