Efficient nonlinear phase shifts due to cascaded second-order processes in a counterpropagating quasi-phase-matched configuration

Abstract

A counterpropagating quasi-phase-matched configuration is examined that is capable of efficiently producing second-order cascaded nonlinear phase shifts with minimal power lost to the second harmonic. For all-optical switching in a nonlinear Mach–Zehnder interferometer, the calculated minimum input power needed for switching (i.e., to yield a $\pm \pi /2$ phase shift) is 40 times smaller than the power needed in the standard type I copropagating configuration. The throughput of this counterpropagating device is 96% at the optimum switching point.

© 1997 Optical Society of America

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