Harmonic

Quantum mechanics

Mixing (physics)

High harmonic generation

Telecommunications

Computer science

Photonic crystal

Photonics

Laser

Physics

Nonlinear system

Four-wave mixing

Mathematics

Optics

Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution

Nonlinear optics

Combinatorics

Topology (electrical circuits)

Second-harmonic generation

Physical review. B./Physical review. B

Unlike solid-state physics, the common test bed for new ideas in topological physics, topological photonics provides an ideal platform to study nonlinear wave interactions. Here, the authors investigate nonlinear interactions of one-way edge modes in frequency mixing processes in topological photonic crystals and demonstrate that more exotic phenomena, such as slow-light enhancement of nonlinear interactions and harmonic generation upon interaction of backward-propagating edge modes, can also be realized. This paper paves the way for the investigation of topology-protected frequency mixing processes in photonics.

Nonlinear one-way edge-mode interactions for frequency mixing in topological photonic crystals