Quasi-phase-matching 2026-10-20
Compensation of phase mismatch by a spatial modulation of the coupling coefficient. Write . The driven amplitude contains , so the selected Fourier component accumulates coherently when . For first-order compensation the full spatial period is , twice the nonlinear optical coherence length.
An ideal equal-duty pattern alternating and has first Fourier coefficient of magnitude . Hence its conversion intensity is of a uniformly phase-matched crystal using that same coefficient, under the same undepleted plane-wave assumptions. The modulation can nevertheless allow a larger tensor coefficient or an otherwise inaccessible wavelength. Periodically poled lithium niobate implements such sign reversals using ferroelectric domains.