Electrically and optically controlled cross-polarized wave conversion

Abstract

Light wave propagation in third-order nonlinear media with applied external electric field is investigated. Interplay between the nonlinear electro-optic and all-optical effects is examined theoretically. Energy exchange between the orthogonal light polarizations, the cross polarization conversion, results. The assisting external field acts as either the effect-enhancing or functionalitycontrolling parameter. Various materials such as silica glass, silicon, other bulk and quantum well semiconductors, organic materials, and particle-doped nanostructures are referred to as possible candidates for device implementations. Numerical estimates of achievable parameters in a selected suitable material are discussed.

Optical Wave Propagation in Kerr Media

“…self-focusing, soliton generation, four-wave mixing, phase conjugation, etc.) associated with the third-order nonlinearity in a given material, usually described by the third-order susceptibility, χ (3) .…”

“…The susceptibility χ (3) is, generally, dispersive. Depending on the frequency region, it describes the nonlinear response in a phenomenological way, which means that it includes combination of all physical effects that contribute to the response in that particular frequency range and usually on different time scales.…”

“…Depending on the frequency region, it describes the nonlinear response in a phenomenological way, which means that it includes combination of all physical effects that contribute to the response in that particular frequency range and usually on different time scales. Normally, the resonant effects are the strongest and thus may dominate the behavior and the values of χ (3) . On the other hand, in a lossless medium and/or far away from any resonant frequencies (absorption lines) of a material, the dispersion of χ (3) is insignificant and the response is instantaneous; thus χ (3) can be considered dispersion-less.…”

“…Normally, the resonant effects are the strongest and thus may dominate the behavior and the values of χ (3) . On the other hand, in a lossless medium and/or far away from any resonant frequencies (absorption lines) of a material, the dispersion of χ (3) is insignificant and the response is instantaneous; thus χ (3) can be considered dispersion-less. This was shown using the classical anharmonic oscillator model 14 , whereby, basically, the electro-optic Kerr effect (DC Kerr effect) is a quasi-static limit of the optical one (AC Kerr effect).…”

“…Finding solutions to such a nonlinear system, which possess physical meaning, is a challenging problem even with today's available powerful computing technology. In order to obtain at least an approximate analytical solution that would offer an insight into the complexity of the problem, simplifying assumptions have to be made 3 .…”