Geometrical Representation of Sum Frequency Generation and Adiabatic Frequency Conversion

Abstract

We present a geometrical representation of sum frequency generation process in the undepleted pump approximation. The analogy of such dynamics with the known optical Bloch equations is discussed. We use this analogy to present a novel technique for the achievement of both high efficiency and large bandwidth in a sum frequency conversion processes using adiabatic inversion scheme, adapted from NMR and light-matter interaction. The adiabatic constraints are derived in this context. Last, this adiabatic frequency conversion scheme is realized experimentally by a proper design of adiabatic aperiodically poled KTP device, using quasi phased matched method. In the experiments we achieved high efficiency signal to idler conversion over a bandwidth of 140nm.