Abstract

A method of intensity-dependent polarization switching is proposed. The effect is based on simultaneous action of two phase-matched second-order processes in a quadratic medium. Using analytical and numerical techniques, we demonstrate that a single linearly polarized fundamental wave, when it is propagating in such a medium, can efficiently generate a new fundamental wave of orthogonal polarization. The polarization switching is explained by an effective four-wave-mixing process that is performed through second-order cascading.

© 1999 Optical Society of America

Spatial optical solitons resulting from multistep cascading

Yuri S. Kivshar, Tristram J. Alexander, and Solomon Saltiel
Opt. Lett. 24(11) 759-761 (1999)

Nonlinear phase shift resulting from two-color multistep cascading

Solomon Saltiel, Kaloian Koynov, Yana Deyanova, and Yuri S. Kivshar
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 17(6) 959-965 (2000)

Energy exchange between two orthogonally polarized waves by cascading of two quasi-phase-matched quadratic processes

Benjamin F. Johnston, Peter Dekker, Solomon M. Saltiel, Yuri S. Kivshar, and Michael J. Withford
Opt. Express 15(21) 13630-13639 (2007)

High-order nonlinear phase shift caused by cascaded third-order processes

S. Saltiel, S. Tanev, and A. D. Boardman
Opt. Lett. 22(3) 148-150 (1997)

All-optical deflection and splitting by second-order cascading

Solomon M. Saltiel and Yuri S. Kivshar
Opt. Lett. 27(11) 921-923 (2002)