Numerical study of supercontinuum generation using noise-like pulses in standard fibre

Abstract

In this paper, we carry out a numerical study of supercontinuum generation (SCG) by propagating hundreds of noise-like pulses (NLPs), produced by a figure-eight laser (F8L) model, through different lengths of standard single-mode fibre (SMF). This work confirms the results of our previous experimental study (Lauterio-Cruz et al 2017 Laser Phys. 27 065107), highlighting the interest in using NLPs as a pump for SCG in cheap optical fibres. Using moderate peak powers (~100 W) we obtain broad and smooth SC spectra extending over hundreds of nm towards longer wavelengths. In order to simulate the fibre attenuation out of the telecommunication window, we propose a rudimentary approximation of the attenuation spectrum for SMF.

Embedded split-step methods optimized with a step size control for solving the femtosecond pulse propagation problem in the nonlinear fiber optics formalism

“…In the nonlinear fiber optics formalism, the pulse propagation problem governed by the nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE) is an adaptable framework to predict and validate multiple phenomenologies and applications such as third-order nonlinear effects provided in multiple optical fiber arrangements [1,2], soliton propagation [3,4], pulsating instabilities [2,5], fiber components [6,7], pulse generation in mode-locked fiber lasers [8][9][10][11], supercontinuum generation [1,[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20], among others. Thus, it is important to continue investigating the adequate methods to solve the NLSE to validate correctly these phenomenologies in the current formalism.…”

“…In a considerable number of mathematical methods to solve the NLSE in the current formalism, the analytic methods involve a mathematical complexity that only allows the validation of a narrow range of phenomenologies based on the soliton wave solutions [21][22][23]. In contrast, the numerical methods allow integrating the NLSE in a broad range of situations, thus making it possible to validate a broad spectrum of phenomenologies in the present formalism [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. However, although there are no guidelines to select a specific numerical method to integrate the NLSE, the suitability of a numerical method can be assessed according to the degree of convergence and stability without a significant increase of the computational cost.…”

“…This phenomenology is based on the creation of new frequencies driven by an extreme spectral broadening that is reached when an intense pulse is propagated into highly nonlinear fiber arrangements [1,[12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. Nonetheless, the implementation of standard single mode fiber (SMF) in this process has also been reported [19,20]. Additionally, it has to be noted that there are multiple mechanisms based on third-order nonlinear effects which are associated with the supercontinuum generation process such as the soliton fission dynamics [1,15], the fourwave mixing process [12], modulation instability [13,14], spectral broadening effects by varying fiber dispersion [16,17], the spectral broadening effect due to the noise-like pulse propagation over long distances of optical fiber [19,20], among others.…”

“…Nonetheless, the implementation of standard single mode fiber (SMF) in this process has also been reported [19,20]. Additionally, it has to be noted that there are multiple mechanisms based on third-order nonlinear effects which are associated with the supercontinuum generation process such as the soliton fission dynamics [1,15], the fourwave mixing process [12], modulation instability [13,14], spectral broadening effects by varying fiber dispersion [16,17], the spectral broadening effect due to the noise-like pulse propagation over long distances of optical fiber [19,20], among others. Furthermore, supercontinuum generation in optical fiber is used in a broad range of applications [7,[25][26][27][28].…”

Numerical study of the fibre dispersion contribution in the pulse propagation problem

“…Accordingly, the role of the dispersion contribution is highlighted in the propagation of optical solitons [1][2][3][4], the prediction of pulsating instabilities [5,6], the four-wave mixing process [3,6,7], the fibre components (e.g. couplers and fibre Bragg gratings) and fibre interferometric configurations [8,9], the optical fibre amplifiers [9,10], the generation of short and ultrashort pulses in mode-locked fibre lasers [9,[11][12][13], the supercontinuum generation process [3,[14][15][16][17], among others. Additionally, different versions of the NLSE that include the dispersion contribution (including high order dispersion), the Kerr effect and other nonlinear effects, can be used to model the picosecond and femtosecond pulse propagation in different types of fibres, such as standard SMF [3,16,17], twisted optical fibre [18] and microstructure fibre (highly nonlinear fibre arrangements such as photonic crystal fibre, photonic bandgap fibre and gas-filled hollow-core photonic crystal fibre) [6,9,14,15].…”