14 February 2024 | Sixu Wang, Wei Li, Chenguang Deng, Zijian Hong, Han-Bin Gao, Xiaolong Li, Yueliang Gu, Qiang Zheng, Yongjun Wu, Paul G. Evans, Jing-Feng Li, Ce-Wen Nan & Qian Li
A study reports the high-performance electric field-induced second-harmonic generation (EFISH) in polar skyrmions formed in PbTiO3/SrTiO3 ferroelectric superlattices. The skyrmions, a topological phase, exhibit a high second-order nonlinear susceptibility (~54.2 pm/V) and modulation depth (~664% V⁻¹) under non-resonant 800 nm excitation, along with a wide operating temperature range (up to ~400 K) and good fatigue resistance (>10¹⁰ cycles). The EFISH response is attributed to the unique polarization configuration of the skyrmions, which enables efficient modulation of second-harmonic generation (SHG) through electric field-induced transitions. The study combines in-situ experiments and phase-field simulations to establish the microscopic links between the polarization configuration and the EFISH response. The results demonstrate that the PbTiO3/SrTiO3 superlattices offer a highly competitive thin-film material for on-chip optoelectronic devices, with potential applications in photonics and optoelectronics. The EFISH effect is shown to be highly sensitive to electric fields, with a large modulation depth and fast response, making it suitable for integrated photonic devices. The study also highlights the anisotropic behavior of the EFISH effect, with distinct patterns observed under different polarization conditions. The results suggest that the EFISH effect in polar skyrmions is a promising avenue for developing novel optoelectronic devices with high performance and tunability. The study provides a comprehensive understanding of the EFISH mechanism in polar skyrmions, which could lead to new applications in integrated photonics and optoelectronics.A study reports the high-performance electric field-induced second-harmonic generation (EFISH) in polar skyrmions formed in PbTiO3/SrTiO3 ferroelectric superlattices. The skyrmions, a topological phase, exhibit a high second-order nonlinear susceptibility (~54.2 pm/V) and modulation depth (~664% V⁻¹) under non-resonant 800 nm excitation, along with a wide operating temperature range (up to ~400 K) and good fatigue resistance (>10¹⁰ cycles). The EFISH response is attributed to the unique polarization configuration of the skyrmions, which enables efficient modulation of second-harmonic generation (SHG) through electric field-induced transitions. The study combines in-situ experiments and phase-field simulations to establish the microscopic links between the polarization configuration and the EFISH response. The results demonstrate that the PbTiO3/SrTiO3 superlattices offer a highly competitive thin-film material for on-chip optoelectronic devices, with potential applications in photonics and optoelectronics. The EFISH effect is shown to be highly sensitive to electric fields, with a large modulation depth and fast response, making it suitable for integrated photonic devices. The study also highlights the anisotropic behavior of the EFISH effect, with distinct patterns observed under different polarization conditions. The results suggest that the EFISH effect in polar skyrmions is a promising avenue for developing novel optoelectronic devices with high performance and tunability. The study provides a comprehensive understanding of the EFISH mechanism in polar skyrmions, which could lead to new applications in integrated photonics and optoelectronics.