Supercontinuum-induced multi-wavelength third-harmonic generation in a suspended-core microstructured optical fiber.

Area of Science:

• Nonlinear Optics
• Materials Science
• Optical Engineering

Background:

• Supercontinuum (SC) generation is crucial for broadband light sources.
• Third-harmonic generation (THG) is a key nonlinear optical process.
• Microstructured optical fibers (MOFs) offer unique light-matter interaction properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate multi-wavelength third-harmonic generation (THG) in a suspended-core MOF.
• To investigate the influence of pump wavelength and power on SC and THG.
• To explore the potential of this method for generating tailored ultrafast light sources.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a suspended-core microstructured optical fiber (MOF).
• Experimental generation of supercontinuum (SC) using a pulsed laser.
• Observation and characterization of multi-wavelength third-harmonic generation (THG) spectra.
• Theoretical simulation to validate experimental results.

Main Results:

• Observed a multi-wavelength THG spectrum (373–589 nm) with over twenty peaks in the visible range.
• Achieved maximal THG conversion efficiency of ~6.791 × 10^-4 at 1480 nm pump wavelength and 350 mW power.
• Demonstrated phase matching (PM) between fundamental and higher-order modes for THG.
• Experimental results showed good agreement with theoretical simulations.

Conclusions:

• Successfully demonstrated multi-wavelength THG induced by SC in a suspended-core MOF.
• This work represents the first report of THG with such a high number of wavelengths in optical fibers.
• The developed technique offers a promising pathway for creating tailored multi-wavelength ultrafast light sources for advanced applications.