Large third-order susceptibility and third-harmonic generation in centrosymmetric Cu2O crystal

Shahin E. Mani, Joon I. Jang, John B. Ketterson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present what we believe to be the first experimental determination of the third-order optical susceptibility χ(3) of bulk cuprous oxide (Cu2O) crystals. The measured nonlinear refractive index, obtained with the Z-scan technique at 1064 nm, is n2 = 1.32 X 10-10 esu, while the two-photon absorption coefficient is β =5.0 cm/GW of Cu2O. We also observe strong third-harmonic generation (THG) from Cu2O in our detection range owing to its unique crystal and electronic structure. Considering that the first nonvanishing nonlinear term is χ(3), this classical semiconductor could be utilized as a promising active THG medium.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2817-2819
Number of pages3
JournalOptics Letters
Volume34
Issue number18
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 15 2009

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

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