This Field Guide is designed for those looking for a condensed and concise source of key concepts, equations, and techniques for nonlinear optics. Topics covered include technologically important effects, recent developments in nonlinear optics, and linear optical properties central to nonlinear phenomena. The focus of each section is based on my research as well as my interactions with colleagues in the field and my experiences teaching nonlinear optics.
Examples throughout this Field Guide illustrate fundamental concepts while demonstrating the application of key equations. Equations are presented without proof or derivation, however, the interested reader may refer to the bibliography for a list of resources that go into greater detail. In addition to the overview of nonlinear phenomena, this Field Guide includes an appendix of material properties for some of the most commonly used nonlinear crystals.
This Field Guide features notations commonly encountered in nonlinear optics literature. All equations are written in SI units for convenience when comparing calculations to laboratory measurements. The formalism of writing equations using complex variable notation introduces ambiguity in defining the electric field’s complex amplitude. Though one convention is used throughout this text, conventions and conversions are presented as part of the first topic. Equations in terms experimentally measured quantities such as power, intensity, and energy, have no ambiguity.
