Light frequency conversion in photonic crystals

Light frequency conversion when light interacts with a shock wave propagating through a photonic crystal is investigated. Two new phenomena are found, the first is that frequency increases by integral multiple of a certain amount in the process of frequency conversion. The second phenomenon is frequency conversion that still occurs when the shock wave front is replaced by a vacuum area. Through FDTD simulations and analytical theory, photon-phonon interaction and surface decaying mode interpretations for the mechanism of frequency conversion are found.