Hyperbolic carbon nanoforest for phase matching of ordinary and backward electromagnetic waves: second harmonic generation

We show that deliberately engineered dispersive metamaterial slab can enable the co-existence and phase matching of contra-propagating ordinary fundamental and extraordinary backward second harmonic surface electromagnetic modes. Energy flux and phase velocity are contra-directed in the backward waves which is the phenomenon that gives rise to unique nonlinear optical propagation processes. We show that frequencies, phase, and group velocities, as well as nanowaveguide losses inherent to the electromagnetic modes supported by such metamaterial, can be tailored to maximize conversion of frequencies and to reverse propagation direction of the generated wave. Such a possibility, which is of paramount importance for nonlinear photonics, is proved with a numerical model of the hyperbolic metamaterial made of carbon nanotubes standing on the metal surface. Extraordinary properties of the backward-wave second harmonic generation in the reflection direction and of the corresponding frequency doubling metareflector in the THz are investigated with a focus on the pulsed regime.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1602.0249

Ultranarrow resonance peaks in the transmission and reflection spectra of a photonic crystal cavity with Raman gain

The Raman gain of a probe light in a three-state $\Lambda$-scheme placed into a defect of a one-dimensional photonic crystal is studied theoretically. We show that there exists a pump intensity range, where the transmission and reflection spectra of the probe field exhibit \textit{simultaneously} occurring narrow peaks (resonances) whose position is determined by the Raman resonance. Transmission and reflection coefficients can be larger than unity at pump intensities of order tens of $\mu$W/cm$^{2}$. When the pump intensity is outside this region, the peak in the transmission spectrum turns into a narrow dip. The nature of narrow resonances is attributed to a drastic dispersion of the nonlinear refractive index in the vicinity of the Raman transition, which leads to a significant reduction of the group velocity of the probe wave.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure

Geometric phase and o-mode blue shift in a chiral anisotropic medium inside a Fabry-P\'erot cavity

Anomalous spectral shift of transmission peaks is observed in a Fabry--P\'erot cavity filled with a chiral anisotropic medium. The effective refractive index value resides out of the interval between the ordinary and the extraordinary refractive indices. The spectral shift is explained by contribution of a geometric phase. The problem is solved analytically using the approximate Jones matrix method, numerically using the accurate Berreman method and geometrically using the generalized Mauguin--Poincar\'e rolling cone method. The $o$-mode blue shift is measured for a 4-methoxybenzylidene-4'-$n$-butylaniline twisted--nematic layer inside the Fabry--P\'erot cavity. The twist is electrically induced due to the homeoplanar--twisted configuration transition in an ionic-surfactant-doped liquid crystal layer. Experimental evidence confirms the validity of the theoretical model.Comment: the text is available both in English (Timofeev2015en.tex) and in Russian (download: other formats - source - Timofeev2015ru.tex, Timofeev2015rus.pdf

Coherent control of light-pulse propagation in a Raman induced grating

We study light-pulse propagation in a dynamically controllable periodic structure (grating) resulting from Raman interaction of a weak probe pulse with a standing-wave pump and a second control laser field inN-type four-level atomic media. The grating is induced due to periodic spatial modulation of the Raman gain in a standing pump field (Raman gain grating). We show that it is possible to control both the probe pulse amplitude and the group velocity of the pulse from subluminal to superluminal by varying the pump or control field. Such a grating is of interest forall-optical switches and transistors

Ienversionless gain in an optically-dense resonant Doppler-broadened medium

Resonant nonlinear-optical interference processes in four-level Doppler-broadened media are studied. Specific features of amplification and optical switching of short-wavelength radiation in a strongly-absorbing resonant gas under coherent quantum control with two longer wavelength radiations, are investigated. The major outcomes are illustrated with virtual experiments aimed at inversionless short-wavelength amplification, which also address deficiencies in this regard in recent experiments. With numerical simulations related to the proposed experiment in optically-dense sodium dimer vapor, we show optimal condition for optical switching and the expected gain of the probe radiation, which is above the oscillation threshold.Comment: 7 pages, 12 eps figures. Video/audio clips of the related virtual experiments are available on http://kirensky.krasn.ru/popov/opa/opa.ht

Inversionless gain in a three-level system driven by a strong field and collisions

Inversionless gain in a three-level system driven by a strong external field and by collisions with a buffer gas is investigated. The mechanism of populating of the upper laser level contributed by the collision transfer as well as by relaxation caused by a buffer gas is discussed in detail. Explicit formulae for analysis of optimal conditions are derived. The mechanism developed here for the incoherent pump could be generalized to other systems.Comment: RevTeX, 9 pages, 4 eps figure