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Updated: May 5, 2026

In-situ Tapering of Chalcogenide Fiber for Mid-infrared Supercontinuum Generation
Published on: May 27, 2013
Supercontinuum generation in 1-decanol
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Although solids have been recently used in ultrafast experiments for spectral broadening due to their relatively high nonlinearity, their sensitivity to damage limits their long-term stability. Liquids are a possible alternative to solids as a nonlinear medium because of their comparable nonlinearity and resistance to permanent damage. We generate a supercontinuum in 1-decanol that spans from approximately 450 nm to 950 nm. We measure the nonlinear index of refraction of 1-decanol and find a significant n4 contribution. This contribution leads to a nonlinearity comparable to CS2 (a frequent reference for nonlinear optics) in high-intensity regimes while being significantly less volatile and toxic. We find this supercontinuum spectrum to be stable for at least 30 minutes.
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