Abstract
The problem about optimization of second harmonic generation (SHG) by a laser beam in a non-linear medium with dimensions less than the beam size has not been solved yet. We present a theoretical method providing an optimization of SHG in the case of non-linear film non-waveguide structure. We have found that even in the case of perfect phase matching there is an optimum length for maximum non-linear interaction. The dependence of generation efficiency on different type of non-linear profiles has been established and related with experimental results. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.