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Nonlocal nonlinear optical response of solids

Project description

Innovative calculation of nonlinear conductivities

When laser light shines on a crystal, light waves and electric currents interact and produce nonlinear optical effects of great relevance to fundamental science and applications. The so-called nonlinear conductivities (coefficients of a perturbative expansion of the current density on the optical fields) capture the entire optical response of the materials for non-extreme light intensities. However, calculating them for specific materials is challenging and relies on an approximation that omits important magneto-optical and magnetoelectric effects, among other important phenomena. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the NL2Optic project aims to address this with an innovative theory of the nonlocal nonlinear optical response of bulk crystalline solids combining perturbative and ab initio methods.

Objective

Understanding the light-matter interactions taking place inside a crystalline solid is a challenging task, but of great significance both for fundamental science and technological applications. When laser light shines on a crystal, light waves and electric currents interact and give rise to a multitude of interesting and relevant nonlinear optical (NLO) effects: harmonic generation, current injection, the Kerr effect, and many more.1 Their study forms a rich and broad subject that sits at the intersection of nonlinear optics and condensed matter physics.
Most of these effects are captured by a perturbative expansion of the current density on the optical fields. The coefficients of the expansion are the linear, second, third and higher order conductivities. They are in general functions of time and space (or frequency and momentum) and, for light intensities that are not too extreme, encapsulate the entire optical response of the material. Indeed, the nonlinear conductivities provide a unifying framework for understanding the aforementioned nonlinear phenomena, with each nonlinear effect being ascribed to a particular frequency component of a conductivity.
Material-specific calculations of the nonlinear conductivity remain difficult, however, mostly relying on the electric-dipole (infinite wavelength) approximation, whereby the spatial dependence of the conductivity is neglected (local response) on account of the approximate uniformity of the optical fields at the scale of the unit cell. This approximation leaves out important magneto-optical and magnetoelectric effects, as well as the possibility of second order nonlinearities in centrosymmetric materials.
The proposed project (NL2Optic) aims to overcome this limitation by developing and applying a theory of the nonlocal nonlinear optical response of bulk crystalline solids. The proposal merges perturbative methods introduced by the applicant and a well established ab initio approach developed by the host.

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Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01

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Coordinator

UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAIS VASCO/ EUSKAL HERRIKO UNIBERTSITATEA
Net EU contribution
€ 194 074,56
Address
BARRIO SARRIENA S N
48940 Leioa
Spain
Region
Noreste País Vasco Bizkaia
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost
No data

Partners (1)