All-fiber 2–6 μm coherent supercontinuum source based on chalcogenide fibers pumped by an amplified mid-IR soliton laser

• Published in: Optics communications Vol. 542; p. 129568
• Main Authors: Kibler, B., Serrano, E., Maldonado, A., Robichaud, L.-R., Duval, S., Bernier, M., Bizot, R., Désévédavy, F., Vallée, R., Messaddeq, Y., Smektala, F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.09.2023; Elsevier
• Subjects: Chalcogenide fibers; Engineering Sciences; Mid-infrared supercontinuum generation; Nonlinear optics; Optics; Photonic; Solitons; Nonlinear optics; Chalcogenide fibers; Solitons; Mid-infrared supercontinuum generation
• ISSN: 0030-4018; 1873-0310
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optcom.2023.129568

We numerically and experimentally investigate an all-fiber configuration of coherent mid-infrared supercontinuum generation in the femtosecond pumping regime. In particular, we demonstrate the advantageous combination of various dispersion-engineered chalcogenide (Ge-Se-Te glass) fibers with a turn-key amplified femtosecond fiber laser delivering 175-fs soliton pulses around 3.4 μm and developed from the erbium-doped fluoride fiber technology. Our results show that compact and coherent octave-spanning fiber supercontinuum sources centered on the 2–5 μm infrared atmospheric window can be obtained with a maximum average power of 50 mW at 25 MHz repetition rate. •2–6 μm coherent supercontinuum generation in chalcogenide fibers.•All-fiber supercontinuum source in the femtosecond regime.•Output average power of 50 mW at 25 MHz repetition rate.