Quasi-phase-matched third-harmonic generation in a quasi-periodic optical superlattice

Quasi-periodic structure can be introduced into nonlinear optical materials such as LiTaO3 crystals. Such structures were used for quasi-phase-matching second-harmonic generation. These materials are now shown to be able to couple second-harmonic generation and sum-frequency generation through quasi-phase-matching. The approach led to a direct third-harmonic generation with high efficiency through a coupled parametric process. The result verifies that high-order harmonics may be generated in a quadric nonlinear medium by a number of quasi-phase-matching processes, and therefore, exhibits a possible important application of quasi-periodic structure materials in nonlinear optics.