Metallic nanocavity-enhanced second harmonic generation from a KNbO3 nonlinear nanowire

We propose and experimentally investigate a self-aligned metallic nanocavity that can enhance second harmonic signals from a single KNbO3 nanowire. With pump beams in the spectral proximity of the metallic nanocavity resonance, second harmonic intensity is observed to be >1800 times stronger than that of a typical bare nanowire under the same illumination conditions. By studying spectral features and polarization characteristics, we confirm that the nonlinear enhancement originates from the locally intensified electric field of a surface plasmon-polariton mode. This simple and robust scheme represents a powerful platform to study single nanowire nonlinearity.

► We propose a metallic nanocavity for nonlinearity enhancement of a KNbO3 nanowire.
► The enhancements owe to the surface plasmon modes of the self-aligned nanocavity.
► Experimentally observed nonlinear signal is 1800 times stronger with the cavity.
► Observed spectral and polarizational features agree with the theory and simulation.