Zijun Liu

Ultrabroad supercontinuum generated from a highly nonlinear Ge–Sb–Se fiber

We report the fabrication of a novel high nonlinear fiber made of Ge-Sb-Se chalcogenide glasses with high numerical aperture (∼1.0), where the core and the cladding glasses consist of Ge₁₅Sb₂₅Se₆₀ and Ge₁₅Sb₂₀Se₆₅ (mol. %), respectively. The nonlinear refractive index (n₂) of the core glass is 19×10^-18  m²/W at 1.55 μm, and its laser-induced damage threshold under irradiation of 3.0 μm fs laser is approximately 3674  GW/cm². By pumping a 20-cm-long fiber with a core diameter of 23 μm using 150 fs pulses at 6.0 μm, supercontinuum spanning from ∼1.8 to ∼14  μm was generated.

Fabrication and characterization of multimaterial chalcogenide glass fiber tapers with high numerical apertures

This paper reports on the fabrication and characterization of multimaterial chalcogenide fiber tapers that have high numerical apertures (NAs). We first fabricated multimaterial As(2)Se(3)-As(2)S(3) chalcogenide fiber preforms via a modified one-step coextrusion process. The preforms were drawn into multi- and single-mode fibers with high NAs (≈1.45), whose core/cladding diameters were 103/207 and 11/246 μm, respectively. The outer diameter of the fiber was tapered from a few hundred microns to approximately two microns through a self-developed automatic tapering process. Simulation results showed that the zero-dispersion wavelengths (ZDWs) of the tapers were shorter than 2 μm, indicating that the tapers can be conveniently pumped by commercial short wavelength infrared lasers. We also experimentally demonstrated the supercontinuum generation (SCG) in a 15-cm-long multimaterial As(2)Se(3)-As(2)S(3) chalcogenide taper with 1.9 μm core diameter and the ZDW was shifted to 3.3 μm. When pumping the taper with 100 fs short pulses at 3.4 µm, a 20 dB spectral of the generated supercontinuum spans from 1.5 μm to longer than 4.8 μm.

1.5-14 μm midinfrared supercontinuum generation in a low-loss Te-based chalcogenide step-index fiber.

We have experimentally demonstrated midinfrared (MIR) supercontinuum (SC) generation in a low-loss Te-based chalcogenide (ChG) step-index fiber. The fiber, fabricated by an isolated extrusion method, has an optical loss of 2-3 dB/m at 6.2-10.3 μm and 3.2 dB/m at 10.6 μm, the lowest value reported for any Te-based ChG step-index fiber. A MIR SC spectrum (∼1.5 to 14 μm) is generated from the 23-cm fiber pumped by a 4.5 μm laser (∼150  fs, 1 kHz). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first SC experimental demonstration in Te-based ChG fiber and the broadest MIR SC generation pumped in the normal dispersion regime in the optical fibers.

Effect of gallium environment on infrared emission in Er 3+ -doped gallium– antimony– sulfur glasses

Gallium-based Ga–Sb–S sulfide glasses was elaborated and studied. A relationship between the structure, composition, and optical properties of the glass has been established. The effects of the introduction of Ga on the structure using infrared and Raman spectroscopies and on the Er3+-doped IR emission have been discussed. The results show that incorporation of Ga induced the dissociation of [SbS3] pyramids units and the formation of tetrahedral [GaS4] units. The dissolved rare earth ions are separated around the Ga–S bonding and the infrared emission quenching are controlled. Moreover, continuous introduction of Er ions into the glass forms more Er–S bonds through the further aggregation surrounding the [GaS4] units. In return, the infrared emission intensity decreased with excessive Er ion addition. This phenomenon is correlated with the recurrence concentration quenching effect induced by the increase of [GaS4] units.

Preparation of chalcogenide glass fiber using an improved extrusion method

Abstract. We developed the extrusion method to prepare arsenic-free chalcogenide glass fibers with glass cladding. By using the double nested extrusion molds and the corresponding isolated stacked extrusion method, the utilization rate of glass materials was greatly improved compared with the conventional extrusion method. Fiber preforms with optimal stability of core/cladding ratio throughout the 160 mm length were prepared using the developed extrusion method. Typical fiber structure defects between the core/cladding interface, such as bubbles, cracks, and core diameter variation, were effectively eliminated. Ge-Sb-Se/S chalcogenide glasses were used to form a core/cladding pair and fibers with core/cladding structure were prepared by thermally drawing the extruded preforms. The transmission loss, fiber bending loss, and other optical characters of the fibers were also investigated.

Fabrication and characterization of mid-infrared emission of Pr3+ doped selenide chalcogenide glasses and fibres

A series of Pr3+-doped selenide glasses was prepared by a melt-quenching method. The Pr3+ doped fibre optic preform was fabricated using extrusion and was successfully drawn into a low optical loss, step-index fibre. Intense mid-infrared (2.8–5.5 μm) fluorescence spectra were achieved at different concentrations of Pr3+ doped selenide glass with a pump of 2.0 μm. A comparison of the emission spectra of bulk glass and the fibres is presented under 2.0 μm wavelength excitation. The strongest emission was achieved due to the dispersion effect of Ga by forming bonds of Pr3+–Se–Ga. Based on the measured absorption spectra, the Judd–Ofelt parameters were calculated, discussed and compared with other host glasses. Given these properties, this system has the potential to be a good gain material for further development to realize both fibre lasers and amplified spontaneous emission fibre sources in the mid-infrared region.

GeS2-In2S3-CsI Chalcogenide Glasses Doped with Rare Earth Ions for Near- and Mid-IR Luminescence.

Chalcogenide glass has been considered as a promising host for the potential laser gain and amplifier media operating in near- and mid-IR spectral region. In this work, the IR luminescence spectra of rare earth ions (Tm3+, Er3+, and Dy3+) doped 65GeS2–25In2S3–10CsI chalcogenide glasses were measured under the excitation of an 808 nm laser diode. To the best of our knowledge, it firstly provides the luminescence spectra of a full near- and mid-IR spectral range from 1 to 4 μm in rare earth ions doped chalcogenide glasses. The results of absorption spectra, luminescence spectra, and fluorescence decay curves were obtained in these samples with singly-, co- and triply-doping behaviors of Tm3+, Er3+, and Dy3+ ions. In order to search possible efficient IR emissions, the luminescence behavior was investigated specifically with the variation of doping behaviors and dopant ions, especially in the samples co- and triply-doped active ions. The results suggest that favorable near- and mid-IR luminescence of rare earth ions can be further modified in chalcogenide glasses through an elaborated design of doping behavior and optically active ions.