Second-harmonic generation in reflection and diffraction by a GaAs photonic-crystal waveguide

Nonlinear reflection and diffraction measurements have been performed on a GaAs/AlGaAs photonic-crystal waveguide patterned with a square lattice: The basis in the two-dimensional unit cell consists of rings of air in the dielectric matrix. The measured angles of diffracted second-harmonic beams agree with those predicted for nonlinear diffraction conditions. Results for second-harmonic intensities as a function of incidence angle, polarization, and pump wavelength show that the reflected second-harmonic signal is dominated by the crystalline symmetry of GaAs, whereas nonlinear diffraction is determined by the photonic-crystal structure.