Nonlinear interference and unidirectional wave mixing in metamaterials.

Abstract

When both electric and magnetic mechanisms contribute to a particular nonlinear optical process, there exists the possibility for nonlinear interference, often characterized by constructive or destructive interference in the radiation pattern of harmonics and mix waves. However, observation of a significant effect from nonlinear interference requires careful balancing of the various contributions. For this purpose, we propose an artificial metamaterial, using the formalism of nonlinear magnetoelectric coupling to simultaneously engineer the nonlinear polarization and magnetization. We confirm our predictions of nonlinear interference with both simulations and experiment, demonstrating unidirectional wave mixing in two microwave metamaterials. Our results point toward an ever wider range of nonlinear properties, in which nonlinear interference is just one of many potential applications.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.110.063901
Year
Chicago Citation
Rose, Alec, Da Huang, and David R. Smith. “Nonlinear interference and unidirectional wave mixing in metamaterials.” Physical Review Letters 110, no. 6 (February 2013): 063901. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.110.063901.