Efficient nonlinear frequency conversion with a dynamically structured nonlinearity

Opt Express. 2005 Sep 5;13(18):6919-30. doi: 10.1364/opex.13.006919.

Abstract

A general technique for quasi phase matching of nonlinear frequency conversion in molecular gases through the dynamically structured nonlinear optical response of a molecular ensemble is presented. We show that the transient molecular alignment created by an ultrafast alignment pulse can be controlled to periodically modulate the strength of the nonlinear optical susceptibility in the reference frame of a fundamental pulse propagating through the aligned molecules. Simulations show efficient third harmonic generation of an ultrafast fundamental laser pulse.