Abstract

Since the first observation by Alfano and Shapiro in the 1970s [Phys. Rev. Lett. 24, 584 (1970) [CrossRef]  ], supercontinuum generation study has become an attractive research area in the field of broadband light source design, including its use in various applications associated with nonlinear optics in recent years. In this work, the numerical demonstration of ultrabroadband supercontinuum generation in the mid-infrared (MIR) region via the use of complementary metal-oxide semiconductor compatible Si-rich silicon nitride as the core in a planar waveguide design employing one of two materials, either ${{\rm LiNbO}_3}$ or ${{\rm MgF}_2}$ glass, as the top and bottom claddings is explored. A rigorous numerical investigation of broadband source design in the MIR using 2 mm long Si-rich silicon nitride waveguides is carried out in terms of waveguide structural parameter variations, input peak power variation, varying unexpected deformation of the waveguide along the core region during fabrication, and spectral coherence analysis. Among the several waveguide models studied, two promising designs are identified for wideband supercontinuum generation up to the MIR using a relatively low input peak power of 50 W. Simulation results reveal that spectral coverage spanning from 0.8 µm to 4.6 µm can be obtained by using a ${{\rm LiNbO}_3}$-cladded waveguide, and similar spectral coverage is also predicted for the other design, a ${{\rm MgF}_2}$-cladded waveguide. To the best of our knowledge, this is the widest spectral span in the MIR region employing a Si-rich silicon nitride waveguide so far. In dispersion tuning as well as in supercontinuum generation, the effect of possible unexpected waveguide deformation along the transverse directions during fabrication is also studied. No significant amount of spectral change is observed in the proposed model for a maximum of 10° inside/outside variation along the width. On the other hand, even 1° upward/downward variation along the thickness could cause substantial spectral change at the waveguide output. Finally, the obtained output spectra from the proposed waveguides are found to be highly coherent and can be applied in various MIR region applications such as optical coherence tomography, spectroscopic measurement, and frequency metrology.

© 2020 Optical Society of America

Highly coherent and multi-octave mid-infrared supercontinuum generations in a reverse-strip AlGaAs waveguide with three zero-dispersion wavelengths

Yujun Cheng, Jintao Lai, Jinhui Yuan, Chao Mei, Xian Zhou, Qiang Wu, Bin Liu, Binbin Yan, Kuiru Wang, Chongxiu Yu, and Xinzhu Sang
Appl. Opt. 60(31) 9994-10001 (2021)

Broadband supercontinuum generation in nitrogen-rich silicon nitride waveguides using a 300  mm industrial platform

Christian Lafforgue, Sylvain Guerber, Joan Manel Ramirez, Guillaume Marcaud, Carlos Alonso-Ramos, Xavier Le Roux, Delphine Marris-Morini, Eric Cassan, Charles Baudot, Frédéric Boeuf, Sébastien Cremer, Stéphane Monfray, and Laurent Vivien
Photon. Res. 8(3) 352-358 (2020)

Cadmium telluride waveguide for coherent MIR supercontinuum generation covering 3.5-20 µm

Zhe Long, Hang Yang, Yang Li, Han Wu, and Houkun Liang
Opt. Express 30(2) 2265-2277 (2022)

Design and fabrication of As₂Se₃ chalcogenide waveguides with low optical losses

Zhuodong Fan, Kunlun Yan, Limeng Zhang, Jingshuang Qin, Jinbo Chen, Rongping Wang, and Xiang Shen
Appl. Opt. 59(6) 1564-1568 (2020)

Mid-infrared supercontinuum generation using dispersion-engineered Ge_11.5As₂₄Se_64.5 chalcogenide channel waveguide

M. R. Karim, B. M. A. Rahman, and Govind P. Agrawal
Opt. Express 23(5) 6903-6914 (2015)