Open AccessMid-infrared ZBLAN fiber supercontinuum source using picosecond diode-pumping at 2 µm
Author(s) -
Alexander M. Heidt,
J.H.V. Price,
Catherine Baskiotis,
James S. Feehan,
Z. Li,
Shaif-ul Alam,
David J. Richardson
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.21.024281
Subject(s) - supercontinuum , zblan , optics , materials science , picosecond , optoelectronics , laser , fiber laser , diode , wavelength , photonic crystal fiber , physics
We present the first demonstration of mid-IR supercontinuum generation directly pumped with picosecond pulses from a Thulium fiber-amplified gain-switched laser diode at 2 µm. We achieve more than two octaves of bandwidth from 750 - 4000 nm in step-index ZBLAN fiber with Watt-level average power and spectral flatness of less than 1.5 dB over a 1300 nm range in the mid-IR from 2450 - 3750 nm. The system offers high stability, power-scaling capability to the 10 W regime, and demonstrates an attractive route towards relatively inexpensive, versatile and practical sources of high power broadband mid-IR radiation.