Nonlinear characterization of robust multimaterial chalcogenide nanotapers for infrared supercontinuum generation

    Authors

    S. Shabahang; G. M. Tao; M. P. Marquez; H. H. Hu; T. R. Ensley; P. J. Delfyett;A. F. Abouraddy

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Opt. Soc. Am. B-Opt. Phys.

    Keywords

    OCTAVE-SPANNING SUPERCONTINUUM; SUSPENDED-CORE FIBER; GLASS; OPTICAL-FIBERS; DOPED FIBER; MU-M; AS2S3 FIBER; ZBLAN FIBER; DISPERSION; LASER; MODE; Optics

    Abstract

    We present the results of an investigation of the nonlinear characteristics of a new class of robust, multimaterial, all-solid chalcogenide nanotapers prepared from high-index-contrast chalcogenide fibers. The fiber is drawn from a preform produced by multimaterial coextrusion and consists of chalcogenide core and cladding (which dictate the optical properties) and a built-in thermally compatible polymer jacket that provides mechanical stability to the fibers and nanotapers. We measure the nonlinear refractive indices both in the bulk chalcogenide glasses using the Z-scan method and directly in the nanotapers from spectral broadening resulting from self-phase modulation using both picosecond and femtosecond pulses. Such robust nanotapers offer many opportunities for dispersion engineering to optimize nonlinear optical fiber applications such as infrared supercontinuum generation. Low-power femtosecond pulses (similar to 100 W peak power, corresponding to similar to 40 pJ energy per pulse) centered at 1.55 mu m wavelength launched into the nanotapers generated a supercontinuum extending over a full spectral octave, 1-2 mu m. A computational model that takes into account the relevant linear and nonlinear optical parameters provides simulations that are in good agreement with the supercontinuum measurements. (C) 2014 Optical Society of America

    Journal Title

    Journal of the Optical Society of America B-Optical Physics

    Volume

    31

    Issue/Number

    3

    Publication Date

    1-1-2014

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    450

    Last Page

    457

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000332639100008

    ISSN

    0740-3224

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