Dispersion Tuning and Supercontinuum generating in novel W-typed chalcogenide fiber

Abstract Chalcogenide glass fiber usually possesses a single zero-dispersion wavelength (ZDW) that is more than 5µm. Here, a novel W-typed double cladding chalcogenide glass fiber was designed and fabricated with optimized dispersion properties based on As2Se3-Ge7As23S70-Ge10As23Se67 glasses. The results show that there are two ZDWs locating at near-infrared 2.95 µm and far-infrared 11.77 µm, and the dispersion less than 8 ps/km/nm at this range. Based on numerical simulation and viscosity analysis, a novel W-typed double-cladding fiber is fabricated via extrusion method, and the lowest loss of 1.15 dB/m is obtained at 5.68 µm. The optimized structure and dispersion distribution of the fiber ensure the excellent supercontinuum generation. When pumping at 3 µm near the first ZDW, a bandwidth supercontinuum (SC) spanning from 1 to 10.9 µm can be obtained. By pumping at 5 µm, a broad bandwidth of SC output from 1.3 to 13 µm can be obtained. This kind of low ZDW fiber has great potential for the generation of supercontinuum in the future.