Abstract

Here we present for the first time analytical and numerical calculations based on the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory (a very powerful phenomenological theory that describes superconductivity) showing the appearance of a strong nonlinear Kerr effect and high-harmonic generation in a type-II superconductor, induced by an incident light pulse. Significantly, the predicted effects occur at low laser intensities (~ MW/cm² scale) and thus may prove to be a key element in future photonics applications. Our approach is physically more transparent and intuitive than the approach based on the BCS theory (the microscopic theory developed in the 1950s) [1]. A new formula for the nonlinear electric susceptibility of type-II superconductors is obtained and is derived using the pseudospin formulation of BCS theory, supporting its validity.

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