Steering and Encoding the Polarization of the Second Harmonic in the Visible with a Monolithic LiNbO3 Metasurface

Nonlinear metasurfaces constitute a key asset in meta-optics, given their ability to scale down nonlinear optics to sub-micrometer thicknesses. To date, nonlinear metasurfaces have been mainly realized using narrow band gap semiconductors, with operation limited to the nearinfrared range. Nonlinear meta-optics in the visible range can be realized using transparent materials with high refractive index, such as lithium niobate (LiNbO3). Yet, efficient operation in this strategic spectral window has been so far prevented by the nanofabrication challenges associated with LiNbO3, which considerably limit the aspect ratio and minimum size of the nanostructures (i.e., meta-atoms). Here we demonstrate the first monolithic nonlinear periodic metasurface based on LiNbO3 and operating in the visible range. Realized through ion beam milling, our metasurface features a second-harmonic (SH) conversion efficiency of 2.40 x 10(-8) at a pump intensity as low as 0.5 GW/cm(2). By tuning the pump polarization, we demonstrate efficient steering and polarization encoding into narrow SH diffraction orders, opening novel opportunities for polarization-encoded nonlinear meta-optics.

Automated summary

Nonlinear metasurfaces play a key role in meta-optics, allowing for scaling down nonlinear optics to sub-micrometer thicknesses. By utilizing transparent materials with high refractive index like LiNbO3, nonlinear meta-optics in the visible range can be achieved, although nanofabrication challenges still exist.