On-Chip Broadband Mid-Infrared Supercontinuum Generation Based on Highly Nonlinear Chalcogenide Glass Waveguides

On-chip mid-infrared (MIR) supercontinuum generation (SCG) covering the molecular functional spectral region (3-12 mu m) offers the advantages of robustness, simplicity, and compactness. Yet, the spectral range still cannot be expanded beyond 10 mu m. In this study, on-chip ultrabroadband MIR SCG in a high numerical aperture chalcogenide (ChG) waveguide is numerically investigated. The ChG waveguide with a Ge-As-Se-Te core and Ge-Se upper and lower cladding is designed to optimize the nonlinear coefficients and dispersion profile. Assisted by dispersive wave generation in both short- and long-wavelength range, broadband SCG ranging from 2 to 13 mu m is achieved. Besides, a fabrication scheme is proposed to realize precise manipulation of dispersion design. Such results demonstrate that such sources are suitable for compact, chip-integrated molecular spectroscopy applications.

Automated summary

This study numerically investigates on-chip ultrabroadband MIR SCG in a high numerical aperture chalcogenide waveguide. By optimizing the nonlinear coefficients and dispersion profile of the ChG waveguide with a Ge-As-Se-Te core and Ge-Se upper and lower cladding, broadband SCG ranging from 2 to 13 μm is achieved. A fabrication scheme is proposed for precise manipulation of dispersion design in such sources suitable for compact, chip-integrated molecular spectroscopy applications.