Asymmetric-coupled Ge/SiGe quantum wells for second harmonic generation at 7.1 THz in integrated waveguides: a theoretical study

We present a theoretical investigation of guided second harmonic generation at THz frequencies in SiGe waveguides embedding n-type Ge/SiGe asymmetric coupled quantum wells to engineer a giant second order nonlinear susceptibility. A characteristic of the chosen material system is the existence of la...

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Main Authors: Talamas Simola Enrico, Ortolani Michele, Di Gaspare Luciana, Capellini Giovanni, De Seta Monica, Virgilio Michele
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: De Gruyter 2024-01-01
Series:Nanophotonics
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1515/nanoph-2023-0697
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author Talamas Simola Enrico
Ortolani Michele
Di Gaspare Luciana
Capellini Giovanni
De Seta Monica
Virgilio Michele
author_facet Talamas Simola Enrico
Ortolani Michele
Di Gaspare Luciana
Capellini Giovanni
De Seta Monica
Virgilio Michele
author_sort Talamas Simola Enrico
collection DOAJ
description We present a theoretical investigation of guided second harmonic generation at THz frequencies in SiGe waveguides embedding n-type Ge/SiGe asymmetric coupled quantum wells to engineer a giant second order nonlinear susceptibility. A characteristic of the chosen material system is the existence of large off-diagonal elements in the χ 2 tensor, coupling optical modes with different polarization. To account for this effect, we generalize the coupled-mode theory, proposing a theoretical model suitable for concurrently resolving every second harmonic generation interaction among guide-sustained modes, regardless of which χ 2 tensor elements it originates from. Furthermore, we exploit the presence of off-diagonal χ 2 elements and the peculiarity of the SiGe material system to develop a simple and novel approach to achieve perfect phase matching without requiring any fabrication process. For a realistic design of the quantum heterostructure we estimate second order nonlinear susceptibility peak values of ∼7 and ∼1.4 × 105 pm/V for diagonal and off diagonal χ 2 elements, respectively. Embedding such heterostructure in Ge-rich SiGe waveguides of thicknesses of the order of 10–15 μm leads to second harmonic generation efficiencies comprised between 0.2 and 2 %, depending on the choice of device parameters. As a case study, we focus on the technologically relevant frequency of 7.1 THz, yet the results we report may be extended to the whole 5–20 THz range.
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spelling doaj-art-9a99e09ac45e4afcb01f8675bf07f7b52025-08-20T02:23:36ZengDe GruyterNanophotonics2192-86142024-01-0113101781179110.1515/nanoph-2023-0697Asymmetric-coupled Ge/SiGe quantum wells for second harmonic generation at 7.1 THz in integrated waveguides: a theoretical studyTalamas Simola Enrico0Ortolani Michele1Di Gaspare Luciana2Capellini Giovanni3De Seta Monica4Virgilio Michele5Dipartimento di Scienze, Università degli Studi Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146, Roma, ItalyDepartment of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185Rome, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze, Università degli Studi Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146, Roma, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze, Università degli Studi Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146, Roma, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze, Università degli Studi Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146, Roma, ItalyDipartimento di Fisica “E. Fermi”, Università di Pisa, Largo Pontecorvo 3, 56127, Pisa, ItalyWe present a theoretical investigation of guided second harmonic generation at THz frequencies in SiGe waveguides embedding n-type Ge/SiGe asymmetric coupled quantum wells to engineer a giant second order nonlinear susceptibility. A characteristic of the chosen material system is the existence of large off-diagonal elements in the χ 2 tensor, coupling optical modes with different polarization. To account for this effect, we generalize the coupled-mode theory, proposing a theoretical model suitable for concurrently resolving every second harmonic generation interaction among guide-sustained modes, regardless of which χ 2 tensor elements it originates from. Furthermore, we exploit the presence of off-diagonal χ 2 elements and the peculiarity of the SiGe material system to develop a simple and novel approach to achieve perfect phase matching without requiring any fabrication process. For a realistic design of the quantum heterostructure we estimate second order nonlinear susceptibility peak values of ∼7 and ∼1.4 × 105 pm/V for diagonal and off diagonal χ 2 elements, respectively. Embedding such heterostructure in Ge-rich SiGe waveguides of thicknesses of the order of 10–15 μm leads to second harmonic generation efficiencies comprised between 0.2 and 2 %, depending on the choice of device parameters. As a case study, we focus on the technologically relevant frequency of 7.1 THz, yet the results we report may be extended to the whole 5–20 THz range.https://doi.org/10.1515/nanoph-2023-0697second harmonic generationterahertzge/sige quantum wellsnon linear waveguidesilicon photonics
spellingShingle Talamas Simola Enrico
Ortolani Michele
Di Gaspare Luciana
Capellini Giovanni
De Seta Monica
Virgilio Michele
Asymmetric-coupled Ge/SiGe quantum wells for second harmonic generation at 7.1 THz in integrated waveguides: a theoretical study
Nanophotonics
second harmonic generation
terahertz
ge/sige quantum wells
non linear waveguide
silicon photonics
title Asymmetric-coupled Ge/SiGe quantum wells for second harmonic generation at 7.1 THz in integrated waveguides: a theoretical study
title_full Asymmetric-coupled Ge/SiGe quantum wells for second harmonic generation at 7.1 THz in integrated waveguides: a theoretical study
title_fullStr Asymmetric-coupled Ge/SiGe quantum wells for second harmonic generation at 7.1 THz in integrated waveguides: a theoretical study
title_full_unstemmed Asymmetric-coupled Ge/SiGe quantum wells for second harmonic generation at 7.1 THz in integrated waveguides: a theoretical study
title_short Asymmetric-coupled Ge/SiGe quantum wells for second harmonic generation at 7.1 THz in integrated waveguides: a theoretical study
title_sort asymmetric coupled ge sige quantum wells for second harmonic generation at 7 1 thz in integrated waveguides a theoretical study
topic second harmonic generation
terahertz
ge/sige quantum wells
non linear waveguide
silicon photonics
url https://doi.org/10.1515/nanoph-2023-0697
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AT digaspareluciana asymmetriccoupledgesigequantumwellsforsecondharmonicgenerationat71thzinintegratedwaveguidesatheoreticalstudy
AT capellinigiovanni asymmetriccoupledgesigequantumwellsforsecondharmonicgenerationat71thzinintegratedwaveguidesatheoreticalstudy
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