Nonlinear transmission properties of hydrogenated amorphous silicon core fibers towards the mid-infrared regime

作者：Shen L^*; Healy N; Mehta P; Day T D; Sparks J R; Badding J V; Peacock A C

来源：Optics Express, 2013, 21(11): 13075-13083.

DOI：10.1364/OE.21.013075

The nonlinear transmission properties of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si: H) core fibers are characterized from the near-infrared up to the edge of the mid-infrared regime. The results show that this material exhibits linear losses on the order of a few dB/cm, or less, over the entire wavelength range, decreasing down to a value of 0.29dB/cm at 2.7 mu m, and negligible nonlinear losses beyond the two-photon absorption (TPA) edge similar to 1.7 mu m. By measuring the dispersion of the nonlinear Kerr and TPA parameters we have found that the nonlinear figure of merit (FOMNL) increases dramatically over this region, with FOMNL > 20 around 2 mu m and above. This characterization demonstrates the potential for a-Si: H fibers and waveguides to find use in nonlinear applications extending beyond telecoms and into the mid-infrared regime.

• 出版日期2013-6-3