Mid-infrared coherent sources using enhanced nonlinear frequency conversion in isotropic semiconductors

Tunable mid-infrared light is an efficient tool for probing molecular structures and medium energy bonding in various materials. Common semiconductors such as gallium arsenide or zinc selenide, have high nonlinear potentiality, we study how to overcome the first order optical isotropy of the semiconductor materials. One way is to make use of Fresnel birefringence at total reflexion: thanks to highly differentiating mechanism that occurs between different polarizations, a phase-matching scenario is possible between the interacting waves when multiple bounces occur in a two-dimension confined slab (Fresnel phase-matching or FPM).