Work

Defect-induced nonlinearity in 2D nanoparticles

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: Optical nonlinearity depends on symmetry and symmetries vanish in the presence of defects. Vacancy defects in centrosymmetric crystals and thin films are a well-known source of even-order optical nonlinearity, e.g. causing second harmonic generation. The emerging ability to manipulate defects in two-dimensional materials and nanoparticles provides an opportunity for engineering of optical nonlinearity. Here, we demonstrate the effect of defects on the nonlinear optical response of two-dimensional dielectric nanoparticles. Using a toy model, where bound optical electrons of linear atoms are coupled by nonlinear Coulomb interactions, we model defect-induced nonlinearity. We find that defects at particle edges contribute strongly to even-order optical nonlinearity and that unique nonlinear signatures of different defect states could provide the smallest conceivable QR-codes and extremely high density optical data storage, in principle approaching 1 bit per atom.

Source: Optics Express

DOI: 10.1364/oe.443977

Authors: Jie Xu, Eric Plum

Institution: University of Southampton

Language: English

Topic: Nonlinear Optical Materials Studies

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,270

Funders: China Scholarship Council, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council