Mid-infrared supercontinuum generation spanning 2.0 to 15.1 μm in a chalcogenide step-index fiber

We experimentally demonstrate mid-infrared (MIR) super-continuum (SC) generation spanning similar to 2.0 to 15.1 mu m in a 3 cm-long chalcogenide step-index fiber. The pump source is generated by the difference frequency generation with a pulse width of similar to 170 fs, a repetition rate of similar to 1000 Hz, and a wavelength range tunable from 2.4 to 11 mu m. To the best of our knowledge, this is the broadest MIR SC generation observed so far in optical fibers. It facilitates fiber-based applications in sensing, medical, and biological imaging areas. (C) 2016 Optical Society of America