Reflection parity and space-time parity photonic conservation laws in parametric nonlinear optics

Abstract

Conservation laws are some of the most generic and useful concepts in physics. In nonlinear optical parametric processes, conservation of photonic energy, momenta and parity often lead to selection rules, restricting the allowed polarization and frequencies of the emitted radiation. Here we present a scheme to derive conservation laws in optical parametric processes in which many photons are annihilated and a single photon is emitted. We first rederive with it the known nonlinear optical conservation laws, and then utilize it to predict and explore conservations of reflection parity and space-time parity. Conservation of reflection-parity arises from a generalized reflection symmetry of the polarization in a superspace, analogous to the superspace employed in the study of quasicrystals. Conservation of space-time parity similarly arises from space-time reversal symmetry in superspace. We explore these conservation laws numerically in the context of high-harmonic generation and outline experimental setups where they can be tested.