Raman transient response and enhanced soliton self-frequency shift in ZBLAN fiber

We have measured the Raman gain coefficient spectrum and third-order susceptibility chi((3)) of a fluoride ZBLAN glass and the Raman response function and Raman fraction of ZBLAN fiber are obtained from the Raman gain coefficient spectrum. We evaluate the performance of soliton self-frequency shift in ZBLAN fiber based on Raman gain coefficient spectrum and generalized nonlinear Schrodinger equation. It is numerically demonstrated that using ZBLAN fiber allows a significant enhancement of the soliton self-frequency shift as compared to silica fiber with comparable dispersion. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America