Enhanced Cerenkov second-harmonic emission in nonlinear photonic structures

We study experimentally and theoretically the Cerenkov-type second-harmonic generation in a one-dimensional nonlinear photonic crystal. We demonstrate that the power of emitted second-harmonic can be enhanced 270 times by varying the angle of incidence of the fundamental beam such that the reciprocal lattice vector of the crystal can be used to compensate for the phase mismatch in the transverse direction enabling interaction in the nonlinear Bragg diffraction regime. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America