Nonlinearity-induced asymmetric diffraction in a hybrid A/B structure with two azo-containing materials

2021 
Nonlinearity-induced asymmetric diffraction based on spatial self-phase modulation is demonstrated experimentally through the illumination of a focus Gaussian laser beam on azo-containing materials coupled together with an A/B structure. We report here that symmetry breaking occurs to the intensity distribution of the transmitted light with diffraction rings when the propagation direction of the pump light is reversed, where asymmetric diffraction excitation takes place. In certain cases, unidirectional diffraction excitation could be realized. In addition, as the light intensity is enhanced, the diameter of the diffraction pattern increases linearly and the linear coefficient is related to the propagation direction of the beam. The diffraction efficiency of the nth diffraction ring differs significantly between the two directions when incident light is set in some specific intensity range. The achievement of the symmetry breaking of light propagation is attributed to the different nonlinear optical response strength of the two azo-containing materials.
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