Electrically Controllable Terahertz Second‐Harmonic Generation in GaAs. Issue 18 (22nd June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Kanghee; Park, Jagang; Kang, Bong Joo; Kim, Won Tae; Kim, Hyeon‐Don; Baek, Soojeong; Ahn, Kwang Jun; Min, Bumki; Rotermund, Fabian
• Is Part Of: Advanced optical materials. Volume 8:Issue 18(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-06-22
• Subjects: electric‐field‐induced nonlinearity -- electron transport -- gallium arsenide -- second‐harmonic generation -- terahertz photonics; Optical materials -- Periodicals; Photonics -- Periodicals; 620.11295
• DOI: 10.1002/adom.202000359
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2195-1071

Abstract

Abstract: Terahertz radiation and its nonlinear optical manipulation may possess potential for a variety of applications in next‐generation electronics and optics. Pioneering studies have shown that the nonlinearity of carrier drift in semiconductors and graphene can be utilized for nonlinear optical processes at terahertz frequencies. However, because of the symmetric response of carriers to the terahertz field direction, most experiments have confirmed only the presence of odd‐order nonlinear processes. In this study, electric‐field‐induced terahertz second‐harmonic generation (SHG) in photoexcited gallium arsenide is demonstrated, where an applied bias field breaks the directional symmetry of the drift transport of electrons. The amplitudes of odd‐ and even‐harmonic waves are found to be highly controllable using the bias field. The measured conversion efficiency of SHG reaches beyond 10 −5, substantially higher than the value previously reported. This terahertz harmonic generation platform with electrical controllability may be useful for future nonlinear applications at terahertz frequencies. Abstract : Second‐harmonic generation (SHG) of terahertz radiation is demonstrated with electric‐field‐induced nonlinearity of electron transport in gallium arsenide. The demonstrated SHG, highly controllable with an applied bias field, provides substantially higher conversion efficiency than previously reported. This unique terahertz harmonic generation platform with electrical controllability may prove useful for future nonlinear applications at terahertz frequencies.