Nonlinear chiral metasurfaces based on structured van der Waals materials

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel nonlinear chiral photonic platform using nanostructured van der Waals materials, achieving significant enhancement in third-harmonic generation and strong nonlinear circular dichroism, enabling advanced optical functionalities.

Contribution

First demonstration of nonlinear chiral photonics using nanostructured van der Waals materials with enhanced harmonic generation and circular dichroism.

Findings

Three orders of magnitude enhancement of third-harmonic generation

Strong nonlinear circular dichroism at resonances

Potential for broad frequency range applications

Abstract

Nonlinear chiral photonics explores nonlinear response of chiral structures, and it offers a pathway to novel optical functionalities not accessible through linear or achiral systems. Here we present the first application of nanostructured van der Waals materials to nonlinear chiral photonics. We demonstrate the three orders of magnitude enhancement of the third-harmonic generation from hBN metasurfaces driven by quasi-bound states in the continuum and accompanied by strong nonlinear circular dichroism at the resonances. This novel platform for chiral metaphotonics can be employed for achieving large circular dichroism combined with high-efficiency harmonic generation in a broad frequency range.