Power scalable mid-infrared supercontinuum generation in ZBLAN fluoride fibers with up to 1.3 watts time-averaged power

Mid-infrared supercontinuum (SC) extending to similar to 4.0 mu m is generated with 1.3 W time-averaged power, the highest power to our knowledge, in ZBLAN (ZrF4-BaF2-LaF3-AlF3-NaF...) fluoride fiber by using cladding-pumped fiber amplifiers and modulated laser diode pulses. We demonstrate the scalability of the SC average power by varying the pump pulse repetition rate while maintaining the similar peak power. Simulation results obtained by solving the generalized nonlinear Schrodinger equation show that the long wavelength edge of the SC is primarily determined by the peak pump power in the ZBLAN fiber. (c) 2007 Optical Society of America.