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Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE

Frequency-tunable nonlinear-optical negative-index metamirror for sensing applications

A. K. Popov

Published Apr 27, 2011• 3 citations

Abstract

The concept of all-optically controlled, remotely actuated and interrogated, ultra-compact nonlinear-optical sensor which can be employed for environmental probing in remote or hostile locations is proposed and the underlying theory is developed. Backwardness of electromagnetic waves propagating in the negative-index metamaterials play critically important role in the proposed concept. Difference-frequency, three- and four-wave mixing processes are investigated and numerically simulated, which utilize uncommon coherent energy transfer from the control optical field to the contra-propagating negative-phase wave. Such conversion leads to parametric amplification of the incident signal and frequency-shifted wave generated in the direction of reflection. Extraordinary features of the proposed microscopic devices applied to sensing applications are discussed. Numerical experiments have been carried out to identify optimum operational requirements and the anticipated properties of the proposed sensor.

DOI: 10.1117/12.884127

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