Nanoimprinting and Tapering of Chalcogenide Photonic Crystal Fibers for Cascaded Supercontinuum Generation

Abstract

Improved long-wavelength transmission and supercontinuum (SC) generation is demonstrated by anti-reflective (AR) nanoimprinting and tapering of chalcogenide photonic crystal fibers (PCF). Using a SC source input spanning from 1-4.2 μm, the total transmission of a 15 μm core diameter PCF was improved from ~53 % to ~74 % by nanoimprinting of AR structures on both input- and output facets of the fiber. Through a combined effect of reduced reflection and red-shifting of the spectrum to 5 μm, the relative transmission of light >3.5 μm in the same fiber was increased by 60.2 %. Further extension of the spectrum to 8 μm was achieved using tapered fibers. The spectral broadening dynamics and output power was investigated using different taper parameters and pulse repetition rates.

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