Ultrafast nonlinearity which results in modulation of linear optical response is a basis for development of time-varying media, in particular those operating in the epsilon-near-zero regime. Here, we demonstrate that the intraband excitation of hot electrons in the epsilon-near-zero media results in the strong second-harmonic modification while the changes in linear transmission are negligible. We also show that nonlinear response of anisotropic epsilon-near-zero materials can be controlled by coupling to vibrational modes and influences the polarisation of the reflected light.
Realizing ultrafast optical control of materials is imperative for advancing the field of optical information processing, nonlinear optics, and time-varying materials. Noble metal-based plasmonics has provided many platforms for achieving optical switching, using strong local field enhancement offered by plasmonic resonances and free-electron plasmonic nonlinearity. However, the switching times in such systems are traditionally constrained by the relaxation of photoexcited hot electrons. In this study, we investigate an interplay between electron relaxation lattice vibrations of the nanostructure. This is achieved by harnessing a temporal Fano-type interference between the rapid relaxation of hot electrons and vibrational dynamics within the plasmonic nanostructure. The effect provides high spectral selectivity and sensitivity to the polarisation of light and geometric parameters of the nanostructure. The results are important for development of nonlinear nanostructure with the tailored transient response.
Metamaterials provide unique opportunities for manipulation of dispersion of light waves and, therefore, polarisation and phase, as well as amplitude of transmitted and reflected waves. Here we report on using linear and nonlinear properties of nanorod and nanotube based metamaterials for shaping ultrashort optical pulses. Intensity limiters, temporal pulse shape control, as well as polarisation switching will be presented. The role on nonlocal effects in pulse propagation in metamaterials will be discussed. Using nanotube based metamaterials allows to introduce additional degree of freedom for passive and active tunability of the optical response.
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