Lecture 10

Conversion efficiency of the nonlinear optical processes;

focused beams, pulsed beams; advantages of the
waveguides.

1
 Plane waves vs focused beams

So far we have treated nonlinear optical interactions in the approximation of infinite plane
waves (no 𝑋𝑌 dependence).

However, in practice, the incident radiation is usually focused into the nonlinear optical
medium in order to increase its intensity and hence to increase the efficiency of the
nonlinear optical process.

This Lecture explores the nature of nonlinear optical interactions that are excited by focused
laser beams.

2
 Plane waves vs focused beams: SHG example
In Lecture 6, we derived (for low conversion limit) phase-matched SHG intensity

NLO crystal

2𝜔! 𝑑! 𝐸 (𝜔)
! !
SH intensity 𝐼!" = ( ) 𝐼" 𝐿 (6.10a) 𝐸 (2𝜔)
𝜖# 𝑐 $ 𝑛 $
-grows quadratically with distance
-grows quadratically with 𝐼!

SHG conversion efficiency !"" ' " (6.10b)

𝜂!" = 𝐼!" /𝐼" = ( )𝐼
%# & $ ( $ "
𝐿!
(plane-wave limit)

d – effective NLO coefficient

In practice, we are interested in power conversion efficiency or

energy conversion efficiency.

3
 Plane waves vs focused beams: SHG example

Imagine, we have a beam with the average power 𝑃! 𝐴 − 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎

How much power 𝑃"! at the second harmonic we can get?
L

Assume we have a top-hat beam at 𝜔 with the area 𝐴. And ignore diffraction, so that the generated beam
at 2𝜔 has the same area (and shape) – the so called near-field approximation.

Intensity (power density) at 𝜔 𝐼! = 𝑃! /𝐴

2𝜔" 𝑑" " " 2𝜔" 𝑑" 𝑃! " " 2𝜔" 𝑑" 𝑃!" "
𝑃"! = 𝐼"! 𝐴 = 𝐼 𝐿 𝐴= ( ) 𝐿 𝐴= 𝐿 (10.1)
𝜖# 𝑐 $ 𝑛 $ ! 𝜖# 𝑐 $ 𝑛 $ 𝐴 𝜖# 𝑐 $ 𝑛 $ 𝐴

%&'() 2𝜔" 𝑑" 𝑃! " 2𝜔" 𝑑" 𝑃! " (10.2)

𝜂"! = 𝑃"! /𝑃! = 𝐿 = 𝐿
𝜖# 𝑐 $ 𝑛 $ 𝐴 𝜖# 𝑐 $ 𝑛 $ 𝐴

Hence focusing (smaller area 𝐴) increases conversion efficiency!

4
 Plane waves vs focused beams: SHG example
Rewrite the formula for conversion efficiency and include the phase matching factor :

inceases with phase matching factor,

frequency squared unity at ∆𝑘 = 0.

Power

2𝜔! 𝑑 !
conversion
efficiency #$%&' ! ∆𝑘𝐿 (10.2b)
𝜂!" = 𝐼 𝐿 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐 2
𝜀( 𝑐 ) 𝑛) " 2

just fundam.
constants L2 dependence

power density
NLO figure of merit
(FOM)

This result holds in the plane-wave top-hat beam

5
 Focused beams: SFG example
Repeat the same formalism, but start from SFG equations for a plane wave (Lecture 6).
Asume no absorption, and that the ‘pump’ field at 𝜔" is strong : 𝑬𝟐 ≫ 𝑬𝟐 & 𝑬𝟑

𝜔"! here

SFG power
(intensity)
conversion
efficiency 𝐼", 2𝜔)! 𝑑 ! !
∆𝑘𝐿 (10.3)
𝜂*+, = = 𝐼 𝐿 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐 2
𝐼"- 𝜀( 𝑐 ) 𝑛) ".
(low limit),
𝜔! → 𝜔" 2

L2 dependence
just constants

‘pump’ power
density at 𝜔!
NLO figure of merit
(FOM)

This result holds in the plane-wave top-hat beam

6
 Gaussian beams
The beams are usually focussed into the nonlinear crystal to maximize the conversion efficiency.
The waves generated by laser sources have a Gaussian amplitude profile with electric field beam
radius 𝑤.

The Gaussian electric field in complex notation is given by:

beam waist length

(focal length b)
the Gouy phase 2𝜋𝑤$!
R, radius of curvature 𝑏 = 2𝑍# =
𝜆
near field 𝑧 << 𝑧𝑅

$ /4 $ 012 $ /4 $
𝐸 ~𝑒 02 %, 𝐼 ~𝑒 %

7
 Gaussian beams

The total power in the Gaussian beam is:

6
012$ /4%$
𝜋𝑤51
𝑃 = 𝐼5 ) 2𝜋𝑟𝑑𝑟 𝑒 = 𝐼5
5 2
on-axis intensity

efective area
of the
Gaussian
beam 𝐴#$$

𝐼789 = 𝑃/ 𝐴:;;

So if we know the power, we know the peak intensity (power density)

8
 Gaussian beams, SHG
Let us now calculate SHG power conversion efficiency for Gaussian beams in the near field.
Need to integrate over XY plane

2𝜔% 𝑑 %
Start from: 𝐼%& = "
( " ) 𝐼& % 𝐿% (6.10a)
𝜖' 𝑐 𝑛
XY
* * ! ! *
2𝜔 𝑑
𝑃!" = = 𝐼!" 𝑟 𝑑! 𝑟 = = 𝐼!" 𝑟 (2𝜋𝑟𝑑𝑟) = $ $
𝐿! = 𝐼" 𝑟 ! 2𝜋𝑟𝑑𝑟 =
# # 𝜀# 𝑐 𝑛 #
2𝜔 𝑑!
! *
" " 2𝜔 !
𝑑 !
𝜋𝑤 !
# 2𝜔 !
𝑑 !
1 𝜋𝑤#
!
= 𝐿! = 𝐼# ! 𝑒 +,- //# (2𝜋𝑟𝑑𝑟) = 𝐿! 𝐼# ! = 𝐿! 𝐼# ( 𝐼# )
𝜀# 𝑐 $ 𝑛$ #
$
𝜀# 𝑐 𝑛 $ 4 $
𝜀# 𝑐 𝑛 $ 2 2
pump power 𝑃!

"" '" ! "" '" "

2&
𝑃!" = 𝑃" 𝐿 𝐼# = 𝐿! (10.4a)
0# & $ ($ 0# & $ ($ 3'((
Gaussian 𝐴"## =
𝜋𝑤$%
2
beams %&'() 𝜔" 𝑑" 𝑃! "
𝜂"! = 𝑃"! /𝑃! = 𝐿 (10.4b)
𝜖#𝑐 $ 𝑛$ 𝐴(99

%
This ! represents averaging in two spatial coordinates for the Gaussian shape
%
Each coordinate gives !
reduction
%
We will see later that time-domain Gaussian shape gives another !
reduction
9
 Gaussian beams, SHG

Note that compression of the second

ω
harmonic signal occurs in space:

𝜔 2𝜔
!"# ! /% ! !&# ! /%"!
𝑒 " à 𝑒 2ω

beamsize reduces by 2

10
 Gaussian beams, SHG, numerical examples
𝜔" 𝑑" " 𝑃!"
𝑃"! = 𝐿 (10.4a)
𝜀#𝑐 $ 𝑛$ 𝐴(99
Real example

KDP crystal

𝜆𝜔 = 1.06 µ𝑚, 𝜔=1.78e15 s-1

𝜖' =8.85e-12 F/m 𝑃!" = 1.78e15^2/8.85e-12/3e8^3 * (0.26e-12^2/1.5^3) *1e-2^2/1.57e-6 *1^2=
𝑐 = 3𝑒8 𝑚/𝑠
𝑑36 = 0.4 𝑝𝑚/𝑉, = 17e-9 W = 17 nW

𝑜𝑜𝑒 phase matching, deff=d36sinθsin2φ

for SHG 1.06->0.53 µm, θ=41º, φ=45º, Power conversion efficiency
deff= 0.26 pm/V= 0.26e-12 m/V
n=1.5; 𝜂!" =1.7e-8 ~ 10-8
L=1 cm (1e-2 m)
)*&'
w0=1 mm (Gauss), Aeff = = 1.57e-6 m2
%

𝑃& =1 W

11
 Gaussian beams, SHG, numerical examples
𝜔" 𝑑" 𝐿"
𝑃"! = $ $ 𝑃!" (10.4)
𝜀#𝑐 𝑛 𝐴(99
Real example

PPLN crystal

𝜆𝜔 = 1.06 µ𝑚, 𝜔=1.78e15 s-1

𝜖' =8.85e-12 F/m
𝑃!" = 1.78e15^2/8.85e-12/3e8^3 *(18e-12^2/2.14^3) *5e-2^2/1.27e-8 *1^2 =
c=3e8 m/s
= 0.086 W = 86 mW
d33=28 pm/V,
𝑒𝑒𝑒 quasi phase matching,
%
deff=)d33 =18 pm/V=18e-12 m/V
Power conversion efficiency
n=2.14;
L=5 cm (5e-2 m) 𝜂!" ~ 0.1
)*&'
w0=90 µm (Gauss), Aeff = %
=1.27e-8 m2
𝑃& =1 W

12
 Gaussian beams, SHG
How tightly can we focus the beam ?
𝑏 = 2𝑧# - focal length
From (10.4) it follows that SHG conversion
𝜂!" ~ 𝐿! /𝑤(!
efficiency (at a fixed pump power 𝑃! ) scales as

;',
+
Rayleigh length 𝑧: = (=/?)

Focusing improves SHG efficiency as ~ 1/𝑤#" till you reach the so Gaussian beam
called confocal limit when the waist 𝑤# becomes so smal that the 012 $ /4 $
Rayleigh length becomes 𝑧: < 𝐿/2 𝐼 ~𝑒 %

The beam intensity does not stay constant over the length of the crystal

The effective length becomes less than L: 𝐿(99 ~ 2𝑧: ~2𝜋𝑤#"/(𝜆/𝑛)

C
1 1 1 1 4%
Hence 1 1
𝜂1E ~ 𝐿 /𝑤5 ~𝐿:;; /𝑤5 ~(2𝑧F ) /𝑤5 ~ 4$ ~ 𝑤51
%

- starts declining at strong focusing 𝑤# → 0

13
Gaussian beams, SHG

NLO crystal
E(𝜔) E(2𝜔)

Very tight focusing is not a good idea:

1. Lower efficiency
2. Possibility of crystal damage in the focus
3. Poor phase matching

14
 Gaussian beams, SHG

Good approximation: confocal focusing, such that:

𝐿 =𝑏 = 2𝑧F = 2𝜋𝑤51/(𝜆/𝑛)

NL crystal
L

15
 Gaussian beams, SHG optimal focusing after Boyd-Kleinman

max at
𝜉 = 2.84
SHG efficiency
in some relative
units

confocal focusing
𝐿 = 2𝑧( condition
(𝜉 = 1)
Still a vey good At a fixed L, 𝜉
approxiamtion – get increases with
10-2 75% of max
the focusing
slope 1 strength as 1/𝑤#"
here

𝜉 = 𝐿/2𝑧F - focusing strength

16
 Gaussian beams, SHG

Note that for the optimized conditions the second harmonic

power is proportional to the sample length L, not L2 .

1G4%$ 1
𝐿 = 2𝑧F = H/I
~𝑤5 optimized focusing

à 𝑤51~𝐿

𝜂1E ~ 𝐿1/𝑤51~ 𝐿1/𝐿~𝐿

17
 Gaussian beams, SFG

SFG analysis for Gausian beams is

pretty similar to that of SHG, if the
frequencies 𝜔3 and 𝜔4 are not far from
each other

18
 NLO processes in waveguides

waveguide

𝜂!"# ~ 𝐿$

On the contary, in waveguides, the beam size is no longer limited by diffraction and is kept at a very
small size (few µm) over the whole length of the crystal.

NLO conversion efficiency in waveguides can be more than 100 times higher than in bulk

19
 SHG with pulsed radiation

pulsed fundamental

2x

𝜔 CW avearge power level

4x
avearge power
level at 2𝜔
2𝜔 CW inceases 2x

20
 SHG with pulsed radiation
pulsed fundamental

𝜔
CW avearge power level

It is clear that at the same average power level, the SH output (and conversion efficiency) will scale
as T/𝜏 - the inverse ‘duty factor’.

Gaussian-shape pulses
. /0.
𝜏 𝐼 ~𝐼( 𝑒 -!.

𝜔
CW avearge power level

T
21
 SHG, pulsed radiation Gaussian shape
" /5" " /5"
𝐸 ~ 𝐸# 𝑒 +4 𝐼 ~ 𝐼# 𝑒 +!4
Gaussian in time: on-axis field on-axis intensity

* * " /5"
𝑃" (𝑡)~ 𝑃# 𝑒 +!4 "/5" ℰ" = ∫+* 𝑃" 𝑡 𝑑𝑡 = ∫+* 𝑃# 𝑒 +!4 𝑑𝑡
à t
power vs time, 𝑃$ - peak power pulse energy

For pulsed radiation we are interested in energy conversion efficiency

Need to integrate power over time

* "" '" * 6" "" '" 6" * " /5"

ℰ!" = ∫+* 𝑃!" 𝑡 𝑑𝑡 = ∫ 𝑃"! 𝑑𝑡 = ∫+* 𝑃#! 𝑒 +,4 𝑑𝑡 =
0#& $ ($ 3'(( +* 0#& $ ($ 3'((
67"
5 4 "
"" '" 6" ! * +,4 "/5" "" '" 2 ∫45 8 8 '4 9 "" '"
𝑃 ∫
0#& $ ($ 3'(( # +*
𝑒 𝑑𝑡 = 0# & $ ( $
𝐿! 3 # ℰ " { "7"
}= ℰ" ! 0 & $ ( $ 𝐿! 𝐼#
'(( 5 4 " #
∫45 8 8 '4
1
=
2

9 "" '"
ℰ!" = ℰ" 𝐿! 𝐼# (10.5) Total reduction coeff.
1 1
! 0# & $ ($ compared to plain wave
9 "" '" (6.10a) because of Gaussian 2 2
Energy conversion ℰ!" / ℰ" = ! 0# & $ ( $
𝐿! 𝐼# (10.6) shape in space and time
efficiency
ℰ& 𝜋 𝜋
𝐼' ≈ 𝜏"## = 𝜏= 𝑡 ≈ 1.064 𝑡)*+,
𝐴#$$ 𝜏#$$ 2 4𝑙𝑛2 )*+,
22