Supercontinuum generation in near- and mid-infrared spectral region using highly nonlinear silicon-core photonic crystal fiber for sensing applications

In this paper, we design a silicon-core photonic crystal fiber (PCF) composed of MgF2 background material to generate supercontinuum spectra in the near- and mid-infrared wavelength ranges. The linear properties of the PCF, including effective index, group velocity dispersion, loss, and effective area, as well as the nonlinear parameter, are calculated for several core radii. We show that by choosing the PCF's optimal geometric dimensions using the particle swarm optimization algorithm, high flatness and near-zero dispersion profile at the desired wavelength can be achieved. Numerical results reveal that by pumping 50 femtosecond optical pulses with a peak power of 1 kW centered at the wavelength of 2460 nm into the proposed optimized PCF, a spectrum with a spectral bandwidth of 2670 nm in the near- and mid-infrared wavelength ranges at 10-mm long PCF can be generated. Such a broad spectrum has many applications, especially in the production of highly sensitive optical sensors applicable in the medical, security, and petrochemical industries.

Automated summary

In this study, a silicon-core photonic crystal fiber (PCF) with MgF2 background material was designed to generate supercontinuum spectra in the near- and mid-infrared wavelength ranges. By optimizing the geometric dimensions using a particle swarm optimization algorithm, a spectrum with high flatness and near-zero dispersion profile at the desired wavelength can be achieved, showing potential for applications in highly sensitive optical sensors.