Abstract

Here, we present soliton-based MIR supercontinuum generation between 1.2 µm and 2.4 µm using a highly nonlinear liquid-core optical fiber. Using carbon disulfide (CS₂) inside a fused silica capillary, the zero-dispersion wavelength is tuned to about 1.85 µm at a comparably large core diameter of 4.4 µm, making such liquid core fibers interesting for ultrafast Tm-lasers pumping. Employing static liquid pressure and a state-of-the-art Tm-fiber laser operating at a high repetition rate (11 MHz), a maximum average output power of 59 mW is achieved. Our findings represent the first demonstration of soliton-based supercontinuum generation in liquid-core fibers, paving the way for reconfigurable optofluidic supercontinuum sources in the mid-IR.

© 2015 Optical Society of America