Giant nonlinear optical wave mixing in van der Waals compound MnPSe3

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates giant odd-order nonlinear optical wave mixing in the 2D van der Waals insulator MnPSe3 at room temperature, with efficiencies surpassing traditional nonlinear materials, opening new avenues for 2D nonlinear optics.

Contribution

It reports the first observation of high-efficiency odd-order nonlinear wave mixing in MnPSe3, a correlated 2D material, at room temperature, with potential for advanced photonic applications.

Findings

Achieved up to 10^{-4} four-wave mixing efficiency

Observed six-wave mixing with efficiency around 10^{-6}

Surpassed efficiencies of traditional nonlinear optical materials

Abstract

Optical nonlinearities, one of the most fascinating properties of two-dimensional (2D) materials, are essential for exploring novel physics in 2D systems and developing next-generation nonlinear optical applications. While tremendous efforts have been made to discover and optimize second-order nonlinear optical responses in various 2D materials, higher odd-order nonlinear processes, which are in general much less efficient than second order ones, have been paid less attention despite their scientific and applicational significance. Here we report giant odd-order nonlinear optical wave mixing in a correlated van der Waals insulator MnPSe3 at room temperature. Illuminated by two near-infrared femtosecond lasers simultaneously, it generates a series of degenerate and non-degenerate four- and six-wave mixing outputs, with conversion efficiencies up to the order of $10^{-4}$ and $10^{-6}$ for the four- and six-wave mixing processes, respectively, far exceeding the efficiencies of several prototypical nonlinear optical materials (GaSe, LiNbO3). This work highlights the intriguing prospect of transition metal phosphorous trichalcogenides for future research of the nonlinear light matter interactions in 2D systems and for potential nonlinear photonic applications.