title: Second-harmonic response of multilayer nanocomposites of silver-decorated nanoparticles and silica.
abstract: We perform a detailed characterisation of the second-order nonlinear optical response of nanocomposites consisting of alternating layers of silver-decorated silica glass nanoparticles and pure silica glass. The samples are fabricated using aerosol techniques and electron-beam dielectric coating, resulting in a bulk-like material with symmetry-breaking induced by the porosity of the alternating layers. The second-order nonlinear response increases with the number of layers. Further, by determining the components of the second-order susceptibility tensor of the samples, we show that the structural properties of the samples are well maintained as the sample thickness is increased. Our results form an important baseline for any further optimization of these types of structures, which can be fabricated using very straightforward methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Tampere University of Technology, P.O.Box 692, FI-33101 Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zdanowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Tampere University of Technology, P.O.Box 692, FI-33101 Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harra
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Tampere University of Technology, P.O.Box 692, FI-33101 Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Jyrki M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mäkelä
authors.affiliation: Center of Microscopy and Nanotechnology, P.O.Box 7150, FI-90014 University of Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Esa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Heinonen
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Tampere University of Technology, P.O.Box 692, FI-33101 Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Tingyin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ning
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Tampere University of Technology, P.O.Box 692, FI-33101 Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Martti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kauranen
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Tampere University of Technology, P.O.Box 692, FI-33101 Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Goëry
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Genty