Hybrid nanowires for phase-matching of third-harmonic generation in hyperbolic metamaterial

Appl Opt. 2021 Oct 1;60(28):8744-8755. doi: 10.1364/AO.427283.

Abstract

We propose a phase-matching technique for third-harmonic generation, called hyperbolic phase matching, that possibly can be achieved by optimal designing and engineering dispersion of hybrid-nanowire hyperbolic metamaterial. We demonstrate phase-matched conditions for two different third-harmonic interacting configurations, which can be created at two optimal incident angles of the pump field. Moreover, each composed hybrid nanowire can enhance third-harmonic generation by using strong field confinement along the metal/dielectric interface due to plasmonic resonance. Finally, conversion efficiencies of transmitted and reflected third-harmonic pulses as a function of incident angle and input pulse intensity are examined by numerical integration of nonlinear birefringent coupled-mode equations. The numerical results validate the idea that, using a combination of phase-matched conditions and pump field confinement, we can achieve a dramatic enhancement of conversion efficiencies of third-harmonic generation.