The role of the second zero-dispersion wavelength in generation of supercontinua and bright-bright soliton-pairs across the zero-dispersion wavelength

Supercontinuum generation with femtosecond pulses in photonic crystal fibers with two zero-dispersion wavelengths (ZDWs) is investigated numerically. The role of the higher ZDW is examined for 5 fiber designs with a nearly constant lower ZDW. It is found that the resulting spectrum is mainly determined by self-phase modulation in the first few mm of fiber, followed by soliton self-frequency shift and amplification of dispersive waves. It is demonstrated how femtosecond soliton pulses can be generated with any desired center wavelength in the 1020-1200 nm range by adjusting the fiber length. Further, the generation of a bright-bright soliton-pair from an initial single red-shifted soliton is found. The soliton-pair has one color in the anomalous dispersion region and the other color in the normal dispersion region, which has not previously been described for bright-bright soliton-pairs. (C) 2005 Optical Society of America.