Supercontinuum generation using continuous-wave multiwavelength pumping and dispersion management

Thibaut Sylvestre (1) , Armand Vedadi (1, 2) , Hervé Maillotte (1) , Frédérique Vanholsbeeck (3) , Stéphane Coen (3)

1 FEMTO-ST - Franche-Comté Électronique Mécanique, Thermique et Optique - Sciences et Technologies (UMR 6174)
2 Swansea Universite - Inst Adv Telecommun
3 Department of Physics [Auckland]

We experimentally demonstrate that continuous-wave supercontinuum generation in optical fibers can be significantly enhanced by using both multiwavelength pumping and dispersion management. We show by detailed spectral analysis that continuum enhancement is achieved mainly through a combination of Raman-assisted modulation instabilities, soliton compression, and dispersive wave generation. With this technique, an 800 nm wide (from 1.2 to 2.0 μm) 2 W supercontinuum source is reported that uses a three-wavelength pump and a dispersion-tailored four-optical fibers arrangement.

Domaines: Optique / photonique

Thibaut Sylvestre, Armand Vedadi, Hervé Maillotte, Frédérique Vanholsbeeck, Stéphane Coen. Supercontinuum generation using continuous-wave multiwavelength pumping and dispersion management. Optics Letters, 2006, 31 (13), pp.2036-2038. ⟨10.1364/OL.31.002036⟩. ⟨hal-00269935⟩