Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Simultaneous Label-Free Autofluorescence Multi-Harmonic Microscopy
Published on: August 29, 2025
Boosting third-harmonic generation by a mirror-enhanced anapole resonator.
Lei Xu1, Mohsen Rahmani2, Khosro Zangeneh Kamali2
11School of Engineering and Information Technology, University of New South Wales, Canberra, ACT 2600 Australia.
A novel dielectric anapole resonator on a metallic mirror significantly enhances third harmonic generation by two orders of magnitude. This breakthrough boosts nonlinear emission efficiency to 0.01% through resonant mode overlap and mirror-induced effects.
Area of Science:
- Photonics and Nanophotonics
- Nonlinear Optics
- Plasmonics
Background:
- Anapole resonators typically enhance nonlinear optical processes.
- Previous designs on insulating substrates showed limited efficiency.
- Off-resonant interference of electric and toroidal modes hindered performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a dielectric anapole resonator on a metallic mirror for enhanced third harmonic generation.
- To investigate the role of resonant mode overlap in enhancing nonlinear emission.
- To explore the contribution of mirror-induced effects to nonlinear signal amplification.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a silicon nanodisk on a gold mirror.
- Excitation of the anapole mode with resonant Cartesian electric and toroidal dipole modes.
- Characterization of third harmonic emission enhancement.
- Analysis of near-field enhancement and mirror-induced effects.
Main Results:
- Achieved a two-orders-of-magnitude enhancement in third harmonic emission compared to traditional anapole resonators.
- Observed significant near-field enhancement due to resonant mode overlap.
- Demonstrated boosted nonlinear emission from free-charge oscillations at the mirror interface.
- Experimentally obtained an unprecedented nonlinear conversion efficiency of 0.01%.
Conclusions:
- Dielectric anapole resonators on metallic mirrors offer superior performance for nonlinear harmonic generation.
- Resonant excitation and mirror-induced effects are crucial for maximizing nonlinear emission.
- This approach represents a significant advancement in achieving high-efficiency nonlinear light sources.
Related Concept Videos
Harmonic Mean
Take the example of the speed of a car, which is the measure of the rate of distance traveled. If the vehicle traverses the same distance back-and-forth, its average speed equals the total distance traveled divided by the total time taken. However, if the car moves with varying speeds, then the arithmetic mean is more skewed...
Resonance
Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion
Simple Harmonic Motion
Characteristics of Simple Harmonic Motion
Simple Harmonic Motion and Uniform Circular Motion
There is an easy way to produce simple harmonic motion by using uniform circular motion. For instance, consider a ball attached to a uniformly rotating...

