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Deep-ultraviolet to mid-infrared supercontinuum generated in solid-core ZBLAN photonic crystal fibre

Nature Photonics volume 9, pages 133–139 (2015)Cite this article

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Abstract

Silica-based photonic crystal fibre has proven highly successful for supercontinuum generation, with smooth and flat spectral power densities. However, fused silica glass suffers from strong material absorption in the mid-infrared (>2,500 nm), as well as ultraviolet-related optical damage (solarization), which limits performance and lifetime in the ultraviolet (<380 nm). Supercontinuum generation in silica photonic crystal fibre is therefore only possible between these limits. A number of alternative glasses have been used to extend the mid-infrared performance, including chalcogenides, fluorides and heavy-metal oxides, but none has extended the ultraviolet performance. Here, we describe the successful fabrication (using the stack-and-draw technique) of a ZBLAN photonic crystal fibre with a high air-filling fraction, a small solid core, nanoscale features and near-perfect structure. We also report its use in the generation of ultrabroadband, long-term stable, supercontinua spanning more than three octaves in the spectral range 200–2,500 nm.

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Figure 1: Measured and calculated ZBLAN PCF parameters and experimental set-up for supercontinuum generation.
Figure 2: Experimental supercontinuum generation in junctions A and B.
Figure 3: Long-term stability during continuous ultraviolet supercontinuum generation from 200 to 400 nm.
Figure 4: Measured and simulated supercontinuum generation in junction A.

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Acknowledgements

The ZBLAN glass rods and tubes were purchased from IRphotonics (now part of Thorlabs).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Guenther-Scharowsky Strasse 1, Bau 24, Erlangen, 91058, Germany

    Xin Jiang, Nicolas Y. Joly, Martin A. Finger, Fehim Babic, Gordon K. L. Wong, John C. Travers & Philip St. J. Russell

  2. Department of Physics, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Guenther-Scharowsky Strasse 1, Bau 24, Erlangen, 91058, Germany

    Nicolas Y. Joly & Philip St. J. Russell

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  1. Xin Jiang
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Contributions

X.J. and F.B. designed, fabricated and characterized the fibre. X.J. and N.Y.J. carried out the experiments on supercontinuum generation. J.C.T. performed the majority of the theoretical analysis and numerical simulations. P.St.J.R. conceived the project and supervised the work. M.A.F. and G.K.L.W. assisted the work in various ways.

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Correspondence to Xin Jiang.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Jiang, X., Joly, N., Finger, M. et al. Deep-ultraviolet to mid-infrared supercontinuum generated in solid-core ZBLAN photonic crystal fibre. Nature Photon 9, 133–139 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2014.320

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