Third-order nonlinearity by the inverse Faraday effect in planar magnetoplasmonic structures

TL;DR

This paper predicts a novel ultrafast third-order nonlinearity in planar magneto-plasmonic structures caused by the inverse Faraday effect, leading to strong nonlinear responses surpassing those of common metals.

Contribution

It introduces a new type of third-order nonlinearity in surface plasmon polaritons due to the inverse Faraday effect and provides analytical formulas for the nonlinear susceptibility.

Findings

Predicted a large third-order nonlinear susceptibility in magneto-plasmonic structures.

Derived analytical expressions for the nonlinear susceptibility using the Lorentz reciprocity theorem.

Estimated nonlinear susceptibility exceeds that of typical metals like gold.

Abstract

We predict a new type of ultrafast third-order nonlinearity of surface plasmon polaritons (SPP) in planar magneto-plasmonic structures caused by the inverse Faraday effect (IFE). Planar SPPs with a significant longitudinal component of the electric field act via the IFE as an effective transverse magnetic field. Its response to the plasmon propagation leads to strong ultrafast self-action which manifests itself through a third-order nonlinearity. We derive a general formula and analytical expressions for the IFE-related nonlinear susceptibility for two specific planar magneto-plasmonic structures from the Lorentz reciprocity theorem. Our estimations predict a very large nonlinear third-order nonlinear susceptibility exceeding those of typical metals such as gold.