Supercontinuum generation in photonic crystal fiber and tapered single-mode fiber

Abstract

Supercontinuum generation has received extensive attention because of the innovation of high nonlinear fiber, which makes the supercontinuum system more simple, compact, and efficient. Nonlinear effects are enhanced greatly during the strong interaction between the light and matter in high nonlinear fiber, and the spectrum will be broadened effectively. In this paper, we demonstrate the supercontinuum generation in a photonic crystal fiber and a conventional tapered single-mode fiber pumped by the mode-locked Yb fiber laser. Through the experimental comparison of the supercontinuum spectrum between two kinds of the high nonlinear fibers, the spectral flatness, Raman perturbation, and dispersion wave radiation are discussed for studying the characteristics of supercontinuum generation. Finally, the octave supercontinuum-based both kinds of high nonlinear fibers could be achieved. In particular, the employment of tapered single-mode fiber is proven to be an appropriate candidate for supercontinuum generation and further application.