Journal
SCIENCE
Volume 342, Issue 6163, Pages 1223-1226Publisher
AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1126/science.1244303
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Funding
- U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences through the Materials Sciences Division of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory [DE-AC02-05CH11231]
- Fulbright Foundation
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Phase matching is a critical requirement for coherent nonlinear optical processes such as frequency conversion and parametric amplification. Phase mismatch prevents microscopic nonlinear sources from combining constructively, resulting in destructive interference and thus very low efficiency. We report the experimental demonstration of phase mismatch-free nonlinear generation in a zero-index optical metamaterial. In contrast to phase mismatch compensation techniques required in conventional nonlinear media, the zero index eliminates the need for phase matching, allowing efficient nonlinear generation in both forward and backward directions. We demonstrate phase mismatch-free nonlinear generation using intrapulse four-wave mixing, where we observed a forward-to-backward nonlinear emission ratio close to unity. The removal of phase matching in nonlinear optical metamaterials may lead to applications such as multidirectional frequency conversion and entangled photon generation.
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