Counterpropagating frequency mixing with terahertz waves in diamond

Frequency conversion by means of Kerr nonlinearity is one of the most common and exploited nonlinear optical processes in the UV, visible, IR, and mid-IR spectral regions. Here we show that wave mixing of an optical field and a terahertz wave can be achieved in diamond, resulting in the frequency conversion of the terahertz radiation either by sum-or difference-frequency generation. In the latter case, we show that this process is phase matched and most efficient in a counterpropagating geometry. (C) 2013 Optical Society of America