Open AccessMaximizing the bandwidth of supercontinuum generation in As_2Se_3 chalcogenide fibers
Author(s) -
Jonathan Hu,
Curtis R. Menyuk,
L. Brandon Shaw,
Jasbinder S. Sanghera,
Ishwar D. Aggarwal
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.18.006722
Subject(s) - supercontinuum , optics , bandwidth (computing) , chalcogenide , photonic crystal fiber , wavelength , single mode optical fiber , four wave mixing , materials science , optical fiber , zero dispersion wavelength , dispersion shifted fiber , physics , nonlinear optics , optoelectronics , telecommunications , fiber optic sensor , laser , computer science
We describe in detail a procedure for maximizing the bandwidth of supercontinuum generation in As(2)Se(3) chalcogenide fibers and the physics behind this procedure. First, we determine the key parameters that govern the design. Second, we find the conditions for the fiber to be endlessly single-mode; the fiber should be endlessly single-mode to maintain high nonlinearity and low coupling loss. We find that supercontinuum generation in As(2)Se(3) fibers proceeds in two stages--an initial stage that is dominated by four-wave mixing and a later stage that is dominated by the Raman-induced soliton self-frequency shift. Third, we determine the conditions to maximize the Stokes wavelength that is generated by four-wave mixing in the initial stage. Finally, we put all these pieces together to maximize the bandwidth. We show that it is possible to generate an optical bandwidth of more than 4 microm with an input pump wavelength of 2.5 microm using an As(2)Se(3) fiber with an air-hole-diameter-to-pitch ratio of 0.4 and a pitch of 3 microm. Obtaining this bandwidth requires a careful choice of the fiber's waveguide parameters and the pulse's peak power and duration, which determine respectively the fiber's dispersion and nonlinearity.