Ultrahigh free-electron Kerr nonlinearity in all-semiconductor waveguides for all-optical nonlinear modulation of mid-infrared light

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Autore principale: Álvarez-Pérez, Gonzalo
Natura: Recurso digital
Lingua:inglese
Pubblicazione: Zenodo 2025
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author Álvarez-Pérez, Gonzalo
author_facet Álvarez-Pérez, Gonzalo
contents <p>Nonlinear optical waveguides, particularly those harnessing the optical Kerr effect, are promising for advancing next-generation photonic technologies. Despite the Kerr effect’s ultrafast response, <span>its reported weak </span><span>nonlinearities to date </span>have hindered practical applications. Here, we explore free-electron-induced Kerr nonlinearities in all-semiconductor waveguides, <span>and we show </span>that longitudinal bulk plasmons—inherently nonlocal excitations—can generate exceptionally strong Kerr nonlinearities. We specifically develop and share here a <strong>nonlinear eigenmode analysis integrated with semiclassical hydrodynamic theory to compute the linear and nonlinear optical responses originating from the quantum behavior of free electrons in heavily doped semiconductors</strong>. These waveguides achieve ultrahigh nonlinear <span>refractive indices </span><span>and </span>nonlinear coefficients while supporting long-propagating modes. Additionally, we confirm the robustness of the nonlinear response under realistic conditions by considering viscoelastic and nonlinear damping mechanisms. Finally, we implement our all-semiconductor waveguides in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer, demonstrating efficient nonlinear modulation of <span>its </span>transmittance spectrum via the free-electron Kerr effect. This work evidences the transformative potential of free-electron nonlinearities in heavily doped semiconductors for photonic integrated circuits, paving the way for scalable on-chip nonlinear nanophotonic systems.</p>
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language eng
publishDate 2025
publisher Zenodo
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spellingShingle Ultrahigh free-electron Kerr nonlinearity in all-semiconductor waveguides for all-optical nonlinear modulation of mid-infrared light
Álvarez-Pérez, Gonzalo
Plasmonics
Nonlinear optics
Hydrodynamic theory
Heavily doped semiconductors
Free-electron nonlinearities
Kerr effect
Waveguides
<p>Nonlinear optical waveguides, particularly those harnessing the optical Kerr effect, are promising for advancing next-generation photonic technologies. Despite the Kerr effect’s ultrafast response, <span>its reported weak </span><span>nonlinearities to date </span>have hindered practical applications. Here, we explore free-electron-induced Kerr nonlinearities in all-semiconductor waveguides, <span>and we show </span>that longitudinal bulk plasmons—inherently nonlocal excitations—can generate exceptionally strong Kerr nonlinearities. We specifically develop and share here a <strong>nonlinear eigenmode analysis integrated with semiclassical hydrodynamic theory to compute the linear and nonlinear optical responses originating from the quantum behavior of free electrons in heavily doped semiconductors</strong>. These waveguides achieve ultrahigh nonlinear <span>refractive indices </span><span>and </span>nonlinear coefficients while supporting long-propagating modes. Additionally, we confirm the robustness of the nonlinear response under realistic conditions by considering viscoelastic and nonlinear damping mechanisms. Finally, we implement our all-semiconductor waveguides in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer, demonstrating efficient nonlinear modulation of <span>its </span>transmittance spectrum via the free-electron Kerr effect. This work evidences the transformative potential of free-electron nonlinearities in heavily doped semiconductors for photonic integrated circuits, paving the way for scalable on-chip nonlinear nanophotonic systems.</p>
title Ultrahigh free-electron Kerr nonlinearity in all-semiconductor waveguides for all-optical nonlinear modulation of mid-infrared light
topic Plasmonics
Nonlinear optics
Hydrodynamic theory
Heavily doped semiconductors
Free-electron nonlinearities
Kerr effect
Waveguides
url https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15264605