Optics Express · 2007 · 75 citations · 4 references
Natural SciencesMaterials SciencePhysicsOptical MaterialsOpticsPhotonicsFiber OpticsLaser PhysicsNonlinear Optical MaterialsNonlinear OpticsOptical FibersUltrafast OpticsFluoride GlassesFluoride Host MaterialsInfrared Fiber OpticsLaser Diode ModulationNonlinear Optical Fiber MaterialsNonlinear Schrödinger EquationRare-earth-doped FibersSupercontinuum Generation
Mid-infrared supercontinuum (SC) extending to ~4.0 mum is generated with 1.3 W time-averaged power, the highest power to our knowledge, in ZBLAN (ZrF(4)-BaF(2)-LaF(3)-AlF(3)-NaF...) fluoride fiber by using cladding-pumped fiber amplifiers and modulated laser diode pulses. We demonstrate the scalability of the SC average power by varying the pump pulse repetition rate while maintaining the similar peak power. Simulation results obtained by solving the generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation show that the long wavelength edge of the SC is primarily determined by the peak pump power in the ZBLAN fiber.
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