A low-cost second-harmonic generation device using a 3D printed waveguide and epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) material system

As photonic devices become more complex, the need for efficient nonlinear materials and streamlined fabrication methods has increased. Typically, fabrication of compact, integrated, nonlinear photonic devices involve expensive procedures and environments within a cleanroom. Largely due to the need for phase matching constraints, many of these materials and methods have limited nonlinear efficiency. Recently, low-loss 3D printed waveguides have been demonstrated and hence are an attractive alternative that does not require a cleanroom. In this work, second harmonic generation near telecom wavelengths with a very low-cost 3D printed waveguide and nonlinear ENZ material platform is demonstrated with an efficiency exceeding 1.2%.