2018/11/14 by Ivan S. Maksymov, Maksymov, Ivan S., Andrew D. Greentree +1
Engineering · Medicine · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Fiber Laser Technologies #FOS: Physical sciences #Fluid Dynamics (physics.flu-dyn) #Laser Design and Applications #Mechanical and Optical Resonators #Optics (physics.optics) #Photoacoustic and Ultrasonic Imaging #Photodynamic Therapy Research Studies #Soft Condensed Matter (cond-mat.soft)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1811.05661
openalex publication_date 2018/11/14 · openalex created_date 2022/10/01 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Nonlinear optical processes are vital for fields including\ntelecommunications, signal processing, data storage, spectroscopy, sensing, and\nimaging. As an independent research area, nonlinear optics began with the\ninvention of the laser, because practical sources of intense light needed to\ngenerate optical nonlinearities were not previously available. However the high\npower requirements of many nonlinear optical systems limit their use,\nespecially in portable or medical applications, and so there is a push to\ndevelop new materials and resonant structures capable of producing nonlinear\noptical phenomena with low-power light emitted by inexpensive and compact\nsources. Acoustic nonlinearities, especially giant acoustic nonlinear phenomena\nin gas bubbles and liquid droplets, are much stronger than their optical\ncounterparts. Here, we suggest employing acoustic nonlinearities to generate\nnew optical frequencies, thereby effectively reproducing nonlinear optical\nprocesses without the need for laser light. We critically survey the current\nliterature dedicated to the interaction of light with nonlinear acoustic waves\nand highly-nonlinear oscillations of gas bubbles and liquid droplets. We show\nthat the conversion of acoustic nonlinearities into optical signals is possible\nwith low-cost incoherent light sources such as light-emitting diodes, which\nwould usher new classes of low-power photonic devices that are more affordable\nfor remote communities and developing nations, or where there are demanding\nrequirements on size, weight and power.\n