Step-index fluoride fibers with all-normal dispersion for coherent mid-infrared supercontinuum generation

Abstract

Step-index fluorozirconate (ZBLAN) and fluoroindate (InF3) fibers with all-normal dispersion (ANDi) are proposed for mid-infrared (MIR) nonlinear application. The fibers have a flat and near-zero ANDi profile at the MIR region to generate a highly coherent MIR supercontinuum (SC). A multiwatt coherent MIR SC is allowed to guide in the ANDi ZBLAN and InF3 fibers of 5.5 µm and 6.5 µm core diameters. The MIR SC is simulated in the ANDi fluoride fibers pumped with high peak power at 1960 nm and 2700 nm. The simulation results show that a highly coherent MIR SC spanning from 1100 to 3000 nm with flatness <10dB generates from the ANDi ZBLAN fiber pumped at 1960 nm, and a highly coherent MIR SC extending from 1500 nm to 3800 nm can generate from the ANDi InF3 fiber pumped at 2700 nm. These ANDi step-index fluoride fibers are available and promising nonlinear media for achieving a high-power all-fiber structure-coherent MIR SC source.