Externally driven nonlinear time-variant metasurfaces

Abstract: Resonant photonic nanostructures exhibiting enhanced nonlinear responses and efficient frequency conversion are an emergent platform in nonlinear optics. High-index semiconductor metasurfaces with rapidly tuned high-Q resonances enable a novel class of time-variant metasurfaces, which expands the toolbox of color management at the nanoscale. Here, we report on the dynamic control of the nonlinear optical response in time-variant semiconductor metasurfaces supporting high-quality factor resonances in the near-infrared spectral range. Pump-probe measurements of germanium metasurfaces at negative pump-probe time delays reveals frequency conversion in the fundamental beam and a blue-shift of 10~nm (3.05$\omega$) and 40% broadening in the third harmonic signal due to the photoinduced time-variant refractive index. A time-dependent coupled-mode theory, in excellent agreement with the experimental data, validated the time-variant nature of the system. Our findings expand the scope of time-variant metasurfaces and may serve as base for the next generation of nanoscale pulse shapers, optical switches and light sources.