Two-photon absorption and nonlinear refraction of AlN from ultraviolet to near-infrared

Z Zhong-guo Li (School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Changshu Institute of Technology 1 , Changshu 215500,) W Wenfa Zhou (Department of Physics, Harbin Institute of Technology 2 , Harbin 150001,) Z Zenghua Wang (The 46th Research Institute, CETC 3 , Tianjin 300220,) D Datang Xu (School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Changshu Institute of Technology 1 , Changshu 215500,) X Xifeng Yang (School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Changshu Institute of Technology 1 , Changshu 215500,) X Xuekun Hong (School of Electronic Information Engineering, Suzhou University of Technology 3 , Changshu, Jiangsu 215500,) Y Yinglin Song

Abstract

We report a detailed characterization of the wavelength dependency of two-photon absorption coefficient β and Kerr nonlinearity n2 in aluminum nitride (AlN) single crystal over a spectral range from 350 to 1030 nm (0.19 < Ephoto/Eg < 0.57). Femtosecond Z-scan results show that the dispersion of β compares favorably with the theoretical prediction at wavelengths shorter than 400 nm (half of bandgap Eg). However, the nonlinear refractive index n2 demonstrated a substantial deviation from theoretical calculations in the 350–450 nm regime, which is correlated with the sub-bandgap absorption band observed in AlN single crystal. The effects of trapped carrier-induced absorption and refraction were determined by femtosecond pump–probe measurements, which could be attributed to the transition from valence band maximum to mid-gap defect states in AlN. Our results provide guidance for developing AlN-based nonlinear integrated photonic devices in the UV–visible spectral range.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 126, Issue 15
Published April 14, 2025
ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (7)

Z

Zhong-guo Li

School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Changshu Institute of Technology 1 , Changshu 215500,

W

Wenfa Zhou

Department of Physics, Harbin Institute of Technology 2 , Harbin 150001,

Z

Zenghua Wang

The 46th Research Institute, CETC 3 , Tianjin 300220,

D

Datang Xu

School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Changshu Institute of Technology 1 , Changshu 215500,

X

Xifeng Yang

School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Changshu Institute of Technology 1 , Changshu 215500,

X

Xuekun Hong

School of Electronic Information Engineering, Suzhou University of Technology 3 , Changshu, Jiangsu 215500,

Y

Yinglin Song