Mid-infrared supercontinuum generation using dispersion-engineered Ge(11.5)As(24)Se(64.5) chalcogenide channel...

Area of Science:

• Photonics
• Materials Science
• Nonlinear Optics

Background:

• Supercontinuum (SC) generation is crucial for various spectroscopic applications.
• Chalcogenide waveguides offer unique nonlinear properties for mid-infrared (MIR) applications.
• Dispersion engineering is key to controlling SC bandwidth in waveguides.

Purpose of the Study:

• To numerically investigate mid-infrared (MIR) supercontinuum (SC) generation in dispersion-engineered chalcogenide channel waveguides.
• To study the effect of waveguide parameters and pump wavelength on SC bandwidth.
• To explore the potential of different cladding materials for enhancing SC generation.

Main Methods:

• Numerical simulations of SC generation in Ge(11.5)As(24)Se(64.5) chalcogenide-glass channel waveguides.
• Investigation of air-clad and MgF(2) glass-clad waveguide structures.
• Analysis of SC spectra generated using a 3.1 μm pump source with varying peak powers.

Main Results:

• SC generation was highly dependent on waveguide design and pump wavelength.
• A 1.5-octave SC (2-6 μm) was achieved in an air-clad all-chalcogenide waveguide with 500 W peak power.
• Using MgF(2) lower cladding, SC spectra extended to 7.7 μm (>2 octaves).
• Further enhancement with MgF(2) cladding yielded SC from 1.8-11 μm (>2.5 octaves) with 3000 W peak power.

Conclusions:

• Dispersion-engineered chalcogenide waveguides, particularly with MgF(2) cladding, enable ultra-broadband MIR SC generation.
• The achieved bandwidths exceed previously reported SC generation ranges.
• This work demonstrates a promising approach for developing MIR SC sources for advanced applications.