# Wave vector relation in nonlinear material

A light wave ($k_1,\omega_1$) travels in a medium of refractive index $n_1$ and then encounters a nonlinear medium ($n_2$) under the angle $\theta_1$.

Snell's law tells us the wave's direction in the medium: $$n_1 sin\theta_1 = n_2 sin\theta_2.$$

We see right away that the wave leaves the medium in the same direction it entered (given that the refractive index behind the medium is again $n_1$).

Now, because of the material's nonlinear character higher harmonics are generated, e.g. $\omega_2 = 2\omega_1$ with its own direction $k_2$.

I understand that the refractive index depends on the magnitude of the applied electric field (Kerr effect), but how does the refractive index look like for the waves ($k_1, \omega_1$) and ($k_2, \omega_2$) and how does this translate into the direction of the wave ($k_2, \omega_2$)?

• What do you mean by "We see right away that the wave leaves the medium in the same direction it entered..."? Is the nonlinear medium a thin layer or are you referring to reflection? – honeste_vivere Feb 2 '16 at 15:34
• Snell's law applies once when the wave enters the medium and once when it leaves the medium. The respective refraction indices and angles are the same, so the linear part of the wave leaves the medium under the same angle as it entered. – George713 Feb 2 '16 at 16:30
• Ah, okay, I see what you mean... – honeste_vivere Feb 2 '16 at 19:03
• This question is closely related to the topic of phase synchronisation in nonlinear media; I believe that proper understanding thereof would sufficiently answer all related questions. If the question is as simple as "how will the generated 2nd harmonic refract, if its index of refraction is different?", the answer is somewhat surprising: "such a wave will not exist, because of lacking phase synchronisation". – dominecf Feb 2 '16 at 20:37
• Can you elaborate? – George713 Feb 3 '16 at 9:57

The point of the nonlinear medium is to create higher harmonics (here: $\omega_2 = 2\omega_1$), i.e. waves with a multiple of the frequency of the initial wave ($k_1,\omega_1$), which do not vanish when the medium ends. This last statement is of the essence here! But I'll come back to that later.

Now, the electric field of the intial wave ($k_1,\omega_1$) can be described as $$E_1^{(\omega_1)}(z,t) = E_1 e^{i(k_1 z - \omega_1 t)} + c.c.,$$ where $E_1$ represents the field amplitude, $z$ the propagation direction, $t$ the time and $c.c.$ the complex conjugate.

The nonlinear part of the polarization that creates the second harmonic reads $$P_{NL}^{(2\omega_1)} = \epsilon_0 \chi^{(2)} E_1^2 e^{2i(k_1 z - \omega_1 t)} + c.c.,$$ where $\epsilon_0$ is the permittity in vacuum and $\chi^{(2)}$ the 2nd order nonlinear susceptibility.

The electric field of the second harmonic is $$E_2^{(2\omega_1)}(z,t) = E_2 e^{i(k_2 z - \omega_2 t)} + c.c.,$$ where $\omega_2 = 2\omega_1$.

Now, at each point $z$ within the medium the initial wave produces another wave running at $\omega_2 = 2 \omega_1$, but this doesn't imply that every created wave has the same phase! It could be very possible that two different waves running at $\omega_2$ have a phase difference so that they interfere destructively. For the initial wave to consistently feed into the same second wave, it has to propagate at the same speed (phase velocity $v_p$). So $$v_{p_1} = \frac{\omega_1}{k_1} = \frac{\omega_2}{k_2} = \frac{2\omega_1}{k_2} = v_{p_2},$$ which implies $k_2 = 2 k_1$ or in other words $\Delta k = k_2 - 2 k_1 = 0$. This is the phase matching condition (kudos to dominecf for pointing this out). It shows, that the direction of both the initial and created wave are the same, since $k$ is usually a vector. Using

$$k_2 = 2 k_1$$ $$\Leftrightarrow \frac{\omega_2}{c} n(\omega_2) = \frac{2\omega_1}{c} n(2\omega_1) = 2 \frac{\omega_1}{c} n(\omega_1)$$ $$\Leftrightarrow n(\omega_2) = n(\omega_1),$$ where $c$ is the speed of light, it's clear, that also the refractive indices match.

It should be highlighted that the phase matching condition not always means that the phase velocities of the waves have to match. The condition for constructive interference has to be satisfied, i.e. $\Delta k = 0$.