High-Harmonic Optical Vortex Generation from Photonic Bound States in the Continuum

Stemming from bound states in the continuum (BICs), momentum-space polarization vortices observed in photonic structures provide an attractive approach to generating optical vortex (OV) beams. On the other hand, dominated by the selection rules, the harmonic generation from nanostructures exhibits a nonlinear geometric phase that depends on both the harmonic orders and the handedness of circularly polarized harmonic signals. Here, the third- and fifth-harmonic optical vortex generation from an amorphous silicon photonic crystal slab, supporting the guided resonance associated with BICs at near infrared wavelengths, is numerically demonstrated. The results show that, determined by the nonlinearity phase, the topological charge (l(n omega)) associated with the nth-harmonic OV beams follows sigma(n -/+ 1)q, where q is the polarization charge of the BIC and the -/+ sign represents the opposite or same polarization of the nth-harmonic signal relative to the circular polarization state (sigma) of the fundamental waves. Exploiting harmonic multiplexing, this approach can significantly improve the channel capacity of OV generators based on topologically protected optical BICs.

Automated summary

Momentum-space polarization vortices in photonic structures based on BICs can generate optical vortex beams, while harmonic generation from nanostructures exhibits a nonlinear geometric phase. Third- and fifth-harmonic optical vortex generation from an amorphous silicon photonic crystal slab has been numerically demonstrated, showing that the topological charge of the nth-harmonic OV beams follows a certain pattern determined by the nonlinearity phase. By exploiting harmonic multiplexing, the channel capacity of OV generators based on topologically protected optical BICs can be significantly improved.