English

Asymmetric high-harmonic generation from subwavelength bianisotropic resonators

Optics 2026-07-09 v1

Abstract

High-harmonic generation (HHG) enables attosecond light pulses and table-top sources of coherent extreme-ultraviolet and soft X-ray radiation. Although HHG has long been associated with gases and plasma, nanostructured solids are emerging as new alternative sources enabling both the enhancement and control of HHG. Here, we experimentally demonstrate and theoretically describe that a single dielectric subwavelength resonator can act as a direction-selective high-harmonic source, enabling control over multiple harmonic orders through the excitation and hybridization of Mie modes. The resonator's geometrical volume is 0.12λ30.12 \lambda^3, and its optical mode volume is 0.03λ30.03 \lambda^3 at its pump wavelength. Structural asymmetry of the resonator along the propagation direction translates into different mode coupling under opposite illumination directions, resulting in pronounced forward-backward asymmetry in the generation of the third, fifth, and seventh harmonics. These results establish bianisotropic subwavelength resonators as a platform for flexible asymmetric generation of high harmonics, expanding the toolbox for controlling strong-field light-matter interactions with Mie-resonant nanophotonics.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2607.08715,
  title  = {Asymmetric high-harmonic generation from subwavelength bianisotropic resonators},
  author = {Albert Mathew and Piyush Jangid and Rebecca Aschwanden and Yves Koppeler and Thomas Zentgraf and Sergey Kruk},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2607.08715},
  year   = {2026}
}