Cascade random-quasi-phase-matched harmonic generation in polycrystalline ZnSe

Abstract

We experimentally and numerically investigated the cascade random-quasi-phase-matched harmonic generation in polycrystalline zinc selenide with tightly focused mid-infrared nanosecond laser pulses. We observed a sharp transition between two distinct intensity scaling regimes as a function of pump energy from sub IN to super IN, where I is the pump intensity and N is the harmonic order. To gain an understanding of the observations of this complex nonlinear process, we carried out simulations of the coupled three-wave mixing equations with random grain sizes and orientations. We found a grain size dependence of the effective phase-matching condition, suggesting that manipulation of grain size can be an effective pathway to phase-matching optimization. This approach may provide a framework for effectively enhancing high harmonic generation and other wave mixing effects in polycrystalline materials.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Dec 27, 2018
Source ID
10.1063/1.5054390

Entities

People

  • B. B. Bowers
  • Bjorn Manuel Hegelich
  • C. G. Richmond
  • G. Tiwari
  • H. J. Quevedo
  • Hillary L. Smith
  • L. A. Lisi
  • Lu Fang
  • Rotem Kupfer

Organizations

  • Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
  • Institute for Basic Science
  • University of Texas at Austin

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Materials Science and Engineering.
  • Quantum Dot Semiconductor Device Photonics and Graphene Optoelectronic Materials and THz Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Pulsed-Laser Deposition