| Title: | Quasi-phase-matched spontaneous parametric down-conversion in chiral ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals |
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| Authors: | ID Kavčič, Aljaž, Institut "Jožef Stefan" (Author)
ID Sebastián Ugarteche, Nerea, Institut "Jožef Stefan" (Author)
ID Humar, Matjaž, Institut "Jožef Stefan" (Author) |
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| Files: |  URL - Source URL, visit https://journals.aps.org/prresearch/abstract/10.1103/wgb3-clj5
 PDF - Presentation file, download (796,04 KB)
MD5: CD20C11E963A6132963FA72BD8D42EAF
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| Language: | English |
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| Typology: | 1.01 - Original Scientific Article |
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| Organization: |  IJS - Jožef Stefan Institute
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| Abstract: | For high-intensity photon pair generation via spontaneous parametric down-conversion, phase matching or quasi-phase-matching must be realized. The most common method is to use periodically poled crystals, where quasi-phase-matching is achieved through the periodic modulation of the nonlinear susceptibility. In contrast to solid-state materials typically employed, an alternative approach is demonstrated here by using chiral ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals (FNLCs). It involves the spontaneous formation of a twisted periodic arrangement of liquid crystal molecules that depends only on the concentration of chiral dopants. This enables the rapid and scalable fabrication of nonlinear optical media with a tunable periodicity of the structure. We show that within only 20µm, we can enhance the signal by 2 orders of magnitude compared to the maximal achievable rate for the non-phase-matched case. This process enables us to achieve a significantly enhanced photon pair generation rate of over 1200 Hz/mW in a very short interaction length while simultaneously maintaining a high degree of polarization entanglement. These results establish chiral FNLCs as a versatile, reconfigurable, and low-cost platform for nonlinear and quantum photonics. |
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| Keywords: | ferroelectric liquid crystals, optical second-harmonic generation, photon pairs, parametric down-conversion |
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| Publication status: | Published |
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| Publication version: | Version of Record |
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| Submitted for review: | 21.07.2025 |
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| Article acceptance date: | 16.12.2025 |
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| Publication date: | 02.02.2026 |
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| Publisher: | American Physical Society |
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| Year of publishing: | 2026 |
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| Number of pages: | str. 013119-1-013119-7 |
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| Numbering: | Vol. 8, iss. 1, [article no.] 013119 |
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| Source: | ZDA |
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| PID: | 20.500.12556/DiRROS-28307  |
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| UDC: | 53 |
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| ISSN on article: | 2643-1564 |
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| DOI: | 10.1103/wgb3-clj5 |
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| COBISS.SI-ID: | 271600643 |
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| Note: | Nasl. z nasl. zaslona;
Opis vira z dne 13. 3. 2026;
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| Publication date in DiRROS: | 13.03.2026 |
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| Views: | 38 |
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| Downloads: | 39 |
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