We explore the use of a highly nonlinear chalcogenide-silica waveguide for supercontinuum generation in the near infrared. The structure was fabricated by a pressure-assisted melt-filling of a silica capillary fiber (1.6 µm bore diameter) with Ga₄Ge₂₁Sb₁₀S₆₅ glass. It was designed to have zero group velocity dispersion (for HE₁₁ core mode) at 1550 nm. Pumping a 1 cm length with 60 fs pulses from an erbium-doped fiber laser results in the generation of octave-spanning supercontinuum light for pulse energies of only 60 pJ. Good agreement is obtained between the experimental results and theoretical predictions based on numerical solutions of the generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation. The pressure-assisted melt-filling approach makes it possible to realize highly nonlinear devices with unusual combinations of materials. For example, we show numerically that a 1 cm long As₂S₃:silica step-index fiber with a core diameter of 1 µm, pumped by 60 fs pulses at 1550 nm, would generate a broadband supercontinuum out to 4 µm.

© 2011 OSA

1. B. H. Chapman, J. C. Travers, S. V. Popov, A. Mussot, and A. Kudlinski, “Long wavelength extension of CW-pumped supercontinuum through soliton-dispersive wave interactions,” Opt. Express18(24), 24729–24734 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
2. W. J. Wadsworth, N. Joly, J. C. Knight, T. A. Birks, F. Biancalana, and P. St. J. Russell, “Supercontinuum and four-wave mixing with Q-switched pulses in endlessly single-mode photonic crystal fibres,” Opt. Express12(2), 299–309 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
3. A. Rulkov, M. Vyatkin, S. Popov, J. Taylor, and V. Gapontsev, “High brightness picosecond all-fiber generation in 525-1800nm range with picosecond Yb pumping,” Opt. Express13(2), 377–381 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
4. J. K. Ranka, R. S. Windeler, and A. J. Stentz, “Visible continuum generation in air-silica microstructure optical fibers with anomalous dispersion at 800 nm,” Opt. Lett.25(1), 25–27 (2000). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
5. M. Foster and A. Gaeta, “Ultra-low threshold supercontinuum generation in sub-wavelength waveguides,” Opt. Express12(14), 3137–3143 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
6. P. St. J. Russell, “Photonic-crystal fibers,” J. Lightwave Technol.24(12), 4729–4749 (2006). [CrossRef]
7. J. M. Dudley, G. Genty, and S. Coen, “Supercontinuum generation in photonic crystal fiber,” Rev. Mod. Phys.78(4), 1135–1184 (2006). [CrossRef]
8. J. C. Travers, “Blue extension of optical fibre supercontinuum generation,” J. Opt.12(11), 113001 (2010). [CrossRef]
9. F. G. Omenetto, N. A. Wolchover, M. R. Wehner, M. Ross, A. Efimov, A. J. Taylor, V. V. R. K. Kumar, A. K. George, J. C. Knight, N. Y. Joly, and P. St. J. Russell, “Spectrally smooth supercontinuum from 350 nm to 3 mum in sub-centimeter lengths of soft-glass photonic crystal fibers,” Opt. Express14(11), 4928–4934 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
10. J. Troles, Y. Niu, C. Duverger-Arfuso, F. Smektala, L. Brilland, V. Nazabal, V. Moizan, F. Desevedavy, and P. Houizot, “Synthesis and characterization of chalcogenide glasses from the system Ga-Ge-Sb-S and preparation of a single-mode fiber at 1.55 μm,” Mater. Res. Bull.43(4), 976–982 (2008). [CrossRef]
11. C. Conseil, Q. Coulombier, C. Boussard-Pledel, J. Troles, L. Brilland, G. Renversez, D. Mechin, B. Bureau, J. L. Adam, and J. Lucas, “Chalcogenide step index and microstructured single mode fibers,” J. Non-Cryst. Solids357(11-13), 2480–2483 (2011). [CrossRef]
12. D. D. Hudson, S. A. Dekker, E. C. Mägi, A. C. Judge, S. D. Jackson, E. B. Li, J. S. Sanghera, L. B. Shaw, I. D. Aggarwal, and B. J. Eggleton, “Octave spanning supercontinuum in an As2S3 taper using ultralow pump pulse energy,” Opt. Lett.36(7), 1122–1124 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
13. B. G. Aitken, “GeAs sulfide glasses with unusually low network connectivity,” J. Non-Cryst. Solids345–346, 1–6 (2004). [CrossRef]
14. N. Granzow, P. Uebel, M. A. Schmidt, A. S. Tverjanovich, L. Wondraczek, and P. St. J. Russell, “Bandgap guidance in hybrid chalcogenide-silica photonic crystal fibers,” Opt. Lett.36(13), 2432–2434 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
15. N. Da, L. Wondraczek, M. A. Schmidt, N. Granzow, and P. St. J. Russell, “High index-contrast all-solid photonic crystal fibers by pressure-assisted melt infiltration of silica matrices,” J. Non-Cryst. Solids356(35-36), 1829–1836 (2010). [CrossRef]
16. N. Da, A. A. Enany, N. Granzow, M. A. Schmidt, P. St. J. Russell, and L. Wondraczek, “Interfacial reactions between tellurite melts and silica during the production of microstructured optical devices,” J. Non-Cryst. Solids357(6), 1558–1563 (2011). [CrossRef]
17. A. S. Tverjanovich and E. V. Tereshchenko, “Structural investigation of glasses in the x(0.16GaCh(2) · 0.84GeCh(2)) · (1-x)(SbCh(1.5)) (Ch = S, Se) system,” Glass Phys. Chem.35(5), 475–478 (2009). [CrossRef]
18. A. S. Tverjanovich and E. V. Tereshchenko, “Physicochemical and optical properties of glasses in the Ga4Ge21S50-Sb2S3 system,” Glass Phys. Chem.35(4), 360–363 (2009). [CrossRef]
19. M. Foster, K. Moll, and A. Gaeta, “Optimal waveguide dimensions for nonlinear interactions,” Opt. Express12(13), 2880–2887 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
20. The minimum effective mode area was determined by searching for the core radius that yields the smallest effective area at a fixed core index.
21. Schott Optical Glass Data Sheets (2006).
22. G. P. Agrawal, Nonlinear Fiber Optics (Academic Press, 2001).
23. C. Xiong, E. Magi, F. Luan, A. Tuniz, S. Dekker, J. S. Sanghera, L. B. Shaw, I. D. Aggarwal, and B. J. Eggleton, “Characterization of picosecond pulse nonlinear propagation in chalcogenide As2S3 fiber,” Appl. Opt.48(29), 5467–5474 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
24. A. Tuniz, G. Brawley, D. J. Moss, and B. J. Eggleton, “Two-photon absorption effects on Raman gain in single mode As2Se3 chalcogenide glass fiber,” Opt. Express16(22), 18524–18534 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
25. F. Mitschke, Fiber Optics: Physics and Technology (Springer, 2010).
26. N. Nishizawa and T. Goto, “Pulse trapping by ultrashort soliton pulses in optical fibers across zero-dispersion wavelength,” Opt. Lett.27(3), 152–154 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
27. Heraeus Datasheet for Suprasil glass Heraeus Datasheet for Suprasil glass.
28. I. D. Aggarwal and J. S. Sanghera, “Development and applications of chalcogenide glass optical fibers at NRL,” J. Optoelectron. Adv. Mater.4, 665–678 (2002).

Appl. Opt.

• C. Xiong, E. Magi, F. Luan, A. Tuniz, S. Dekker, J. S. Sanghera, L. B. Shaw, I. D. Aggarwal, and B. J. Eggleton, “Characterization of picosecond pulse nonlinear propagation in chalcogenide As2S3 fiber,” Appl. Opt.48(29), 5467–5474 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Glass Phys. Chem.

• A. S. Tverjanovich and E. V. Tereshchenko, “Structural investigation of glasses in the x(0.16GaCh(2) · 0.84GeCh(2)) · (1-x)(SbCh(1.5)) (Ch = S, Se) system,” Glass Phys. Chem.35(5), 475–478 (2009). [CrossRef]
• A. S. Tverjanovich and E. V. Tereshchenko, “Physicochemical and optical properties of glasses in the Ga4Ge21S50-Sb2S3 system,” Glass Phys. Chem.35(4), 360–363 (2009). [CrossRef]

J. Lightwave Technol.

• P. St. J. Russell, “Photonic-crystal fibers,” J. Lightwave Technol.24(12), 4729–4749 (2006). [CrossRef]

J. Non-Cryst. Solids

• C. Conseil, Q. Coulombier, C. Boussard-Pledel, J. Troles, L. Brilland, G. Renversez, D. Mechin, B. Bureau, J. L. Adam, and J. Lucas, “Chalcogenide step index and microstructured single mode fibers,” J. Non-Cryst. Solids357(11-13), 2480–2483 (2011). [CrossRef]
• B. G. Aitken, “GeAs sulfide glasses with unusually low network connectivity,” J. Non-Cryst. Solids345–346, 1–6 (2004). [CrossRef]
• N. Da, L. Wondraczek, M. A. Schmidt, N. Granzow, and P. St. J. Russell, “High index-contrast all-solid photonic crystal fibers by pressure-assisted melt infiltration of silica matrices,” J. Non-Cryst. Solids356(35-36), 1829–1836 (2010). [CrossRef]
• N. Da, A. A. Enany, N. Granzow, M. A. Schmidt, P. St. J. Russell, and L. Wondraczek, “Interfacial reactions between tellurite melts and silica during the production of microstructured optical devices,” J. Non-Cryst. Solids357(6), 1558–1563 (2011). [CrossRef]

J. Opt.

• J. C. Travers, “Blue extension of optical fibre supercontinuum generation,” J. Opt.12(11), 113001 (2010). [CrossRef]

J. Optoelectron. Adv. Mater.

• I. D. Aggarwal and J. S. Sanghera, “Development and applications of chalcogenide glass optical fibers at NRL,” J. Optoelectron. Adv. Mater.4, 665–678 (2002).

Mater. Res. Bull.

• J. Troles, Y. Niu, C. Duverger-Arfuso, F. Smektala, L. Brilland, V. Nazabal, V. Moizan, F. Desevedavy, and P. Houizot, “Synthesis and characterization of chalcogenide glasses from the system Ga-Ge-Sb-S and preparation of a single-mode fiber at 1.55 μm,” Mater. Res. Bull.43(4), 976–982 (2008). [CrossRef]

Opt. Express

• M. Foster and A. Gaeta, “Ultra-low threshold supercontinuum generation in sub-wavelength waveguides,” Opt. Express12(14), 3137–3143 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• F. G. Omenetto, N. A. Wolchover, M. R. Wehner, M. Ross, A. Efimov, A. J. Taylor, V. V. R. K. Kumar, A. K. George, J. C. Knight, N. Y. Joly, and P. St. J. Russell, “Spectrally smooth supercontinuum from 350 nm to 3 mum in sub-centimeter lengths of soft-glass photonic crystal fibers,” Opt. Express14(11), 4928–4934 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• B. H. Chapman, J. C. Travers, S. V. Popov, A. Mussot, and A. Kudlinski, “Long wavelength extension of CW-pumped supercontinuum through soliton-dispersive wave interactions,” Opt. Express18(24), 24729–24734 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• W. J. Wadsworth, N. Joly, J. C. Knight, T. A. Birks, F. Biancalana, and P. St. J. Russell, “Supercontinuum and four-wave mixing with Q-switched pulses in endlessly single-mode photonic crystal fibres,” Opt. Express12(2), 299–309 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• A. Rulkov, M. Vyatkin, S. Popov, J. Taylor, and V. Gapontsev, “High brightness picosecond all-fiber generation in 525-1800nm range with picosecond Yb pumping,” Opt. Express13(2), 377–381 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• M. Foster, K. Moll, and A. Gaeta, “Optimal waveguide dimensions for nonlinear interactions,” Opt. Express12(13), 2880–2887 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• A. Tuniz, G. Brawley, D. J. Moss, and B. J. Eggleton, “Two-photon absorption effects on Raman gain in single mode As2Se3 chalcogenide glass fiber,” Opt. Express16(22), 18524–18534 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Lett.

• N. Nishizawa and T. Goto, “Pulse trapping by ultrashort soliton pulses in optical fibers across zero-dispersion wavelength,” Opt. Lett.27(3), 152–154 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• J. K. Ranka, R. S. Windeler, and A. J. Stentz, “Visible continuum generation in air-silica microstructure optical fibers with anomalous dispersion at 800 nm,” Opt. Lett.25(1), 25–27 (2000). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• D. D. Hudson, S. A. Dekker, E. C. Mägi, A. C. Judge, S. D. Jackson, E. B. Li, J. S. Sanghera, L. B. Shaw, I. D. Aggarwal, and B. J. Eggleton, “Octave spanning supercontinuum in an As2S3 taper using ultralow pump pulse energy,” Opt. Lett.36(7), 1122–1124 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• N. Granzow, P. Uebel, M. A. Schmidt, A. S. Tverjanovich, L. Wondraczek, and P. St. J. Russell, “Bandgap guidance in hybrid chalcogenide-silica photonic crystal fibers,” Opt. Lett.36(13), 2432–2434 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Rev. Mod. Phys.

• J. M. Dudley, G. Genty, and S. Coen, “Supercontinuum generation in photonic crystal fiber,” Rev. Mod. Phys.78(4), 1135–1184 (2006). [CrossRef]

Other

• Heraeus Datasheet for Suprasil glass Heraeus Datasheet for Suprasil glass.
• F. Mitschke, Fiber Optics: Physics and Technology (Springer, 2010).
• The minimum effective mode area was determined by searching for the core radius that yields the smallest effective area at a fixed core index.
• Schott Optical Glass Data Sheets (2006).
• G. P. Agrawal, Nonlinear Fiber Optics (Academic Press, 2001).

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