Official description

This course offers an introduction to the concepts underlying nonlinear optical phenomena. Topics include: Basic formalism and classification of nonlinear optical processes through the framework of nonlinear susceptibilities: Non-phase-matched processes (e.g. rectification, Kerr effect, soliton generation, Pockels effect, two-photon absorption, degenerate four-wave mixing); phase-matched processes (parametric conversion, harmonic and difference frequency generation); Raman and Brillouin scattering. Microscopic (quantum) origin of nonlinear susceptibilities, and subtleties associated with their calculation for solids associated with band structure topology. The use of nonlinear optics to generate nonclassical states of light for quantum information processing, particularly in integrated photonics, and connections between the classical and quantum regimes.

Students taking this course should be thoroughly familiar with the material covered in PHY1510 (Electromagnetism) and PHY1520 (Quantum mechanics). It is also recommended that they have taken PHY1485 (Laser Physics) or its equivalent.

The course will range over topics, and references, but the following is one of the

excellent standard textbooks, which we’ll use quite a bit:

Robert W. Boyd, “Nonlinear optics,” (4th edition), Academic Press, Burlington, MA,

2020.

For background reading on some of the quantum processes, see:

“Beyond photon pairs – nonlinear quantum photonics in the high-gain regime: a

tutorial,” N. Quesada et al., Advances in Optics and Photonics 14, 291-403 (2022)