Plasmon polariton assisted second-harmonic generation in graphene

TL;DR

This paper theoretically investigates how surface plasmon-polaritons in a graphene monolayer within an ATR setup can significantly enhance second-harmonic generation efficiency by leveraging strong field confinement and resonance effects.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical framework demonstrating the role of SPPs in boosting SHG in graphene within an ATR configuration, highlighting the interplay between electronic properties and optical fields.

Findings

SPPs significantly enhance SHG efficiency in graphene.

Resonant excitation of SPPs amplifies nonlinear optical signals.

The ATR scheme optimizes conditions for SHG in graphene.

Abstract

In this paper we present a theoretical examination of second-harmonic generation (SHG) in a graphene monolayer integrated within an attenuated total internal reflection (ATR) configuration. By embedding graphene in this optical setup, we explore the enhancement in the nonlinear optical response, particularly focusing on the efficiency of SHG. Our analysis reveals that the excitation of surface plasmon-polaritons (SPPs) plays a central role in significantly boosting the efficiency of SHG. The unique electronic properties of graphene, combined with the resonant characteristics of SPPs, create a synergistic effect that amplifies the nonlinear optical signals. This enhancement is attributed to the strong field confinement and the resonant nature of SPPs, which effectively increase the interaction between the incident light and the graphene monolayer. Furthermore, we analyze the underlying mechanisms that govern this process, providing a comprehensive theoretical framework that elucidates the interplay between graphene's electronic structure and the optical fields. Our findings suggest that the ATR scheme not only facilitates the excitation of SPPs but also optimizes the conditions for SHG.