Counter-propagating frequency mixing with Terahertz waves in diamond

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates efficient counter-propagating frequency mixing of Terahertz and optical waves in diamond via Kerr-nonlinearity, enabling phase-matched sum- and difference-frequency generation in the THz regime.

Contribution

It introduces a novel counter-propagating geometry for THz-optical wave mixing in diamond, achieving phase-matched frequency conversion.

Findings

Efficient sum- and difference-frequency generation in diamond.

Phase-matching achieved in counter-propagating geometry.

Potential for advanced THz frequency conversion applications.

Abstract

Frequency conversion by means of Kerr-nonlinearity is one of the most common and exploited nonlinear optical processes in the UV, visible, IR and Mid-IR spectral regions. Here we show that wave mixing of an optical field and a Terahertz wave can be achieved in diamond, resulting in the frequency conversion of the THz radiation either by sum- or difference-frequency generation. In the latter case, we show that this process is phase-matched and most efficient in a counter-propagating geometry.