Naturally Phase-Matched Second-Harmonic Generation in a Whispering-Gallery-Mode Resonator

We demonstrate for the first time natural phase matching for optical frequency doubling in a high-Q whispering-gallery-mode resonator made of lithium niobate. A conversion efficiency of 9% is achieved at 30  μW in-coupled continuous wave pump power. The observed saturation pump power of 3.2 mW is almost 2 orders of magnitude lower than the state-of-the-art value.

This suggests an application of our frequency doubler as a source of nonclassical light requiring only a low-power pump, which easily can be quantum noise limited. Our theoretical analysis of the three-wave mixing in a whispering-gallery-mode resonator provides the relative conversion efficiencies for frequency doubling in various modes.