Investigation of millimeter wave parametric generation from a THz photonic band gap device

We present a photonic band gap (PBG) structure design for terahertz (THz) wave parametric generation, which has crystal layer fabrication tolerance of a few micrometers and can be made with traditional polishing methods. This PBG structure consists of two component materials with a small refractive index difference at near infrared pump wavelengths and a large refractive index difference for THz waves. With this design the PBG device has optical properties very close to that of a bulk crystal in the near infrared, but photonic crystal features in the THz range, such as structural dispersion, which allows placement of the phase matched pump wavelength in the near infrared to eliminate two-photon absorption of the pump and signal beams. The added design flexibility also allows the use of the most efficient crystal orientations. Potential applications of this THz PBG structure are discussed