All chalcogenide Raman parametric Laser, Wavelength Converter and Amplifier in a Single Microwire

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a versatile chalcogenide microwire device capable of functioning as a Raman laser, wavelength converter, and amplifier, leveraging nonlinear effects for efficient, broadband optical applications.

Contribution

It introduces a single microwire device that integrates Raman laser, wavelength conversion, and amplification functions using engineered dispersion and high nonlinear gain.

Findings

Operates at record low pump power of 52 μW for Raman laser.

Achieves over 330 nm wavelength coverage as an amplifier.

Utilizes ultrahigh Raman and Kerr gain in chalcogenide microwires.

Abstract

Compact, power efficient and fiber compatible lasers, wavelength converters and amplifiers are vital ingredients for the future fiber optic systems and networks. Nonlinear optical effects, like Raman scattering and parametric four wave mixing, offer a way to realize such devices. Here we use a single chalcogenide microwire to realize a device that provides the functions of a Stokes Raman parametric laser, a four wave mixing anti Stokes wavelength converter, and an ultra broadband Stokes/anti Stokes Raman amplifier or supercontinuum generator. The device operation relies on ultrahigh Raman and Kerr gain (upto five orders of magnitude larger than in silica fibers), precisely engineered chromatic dispersion and high photosensitivity of the chalcogenide microwire. The Raman parametric laser operates at a record low threshold average (peak) pump power of 52 \muW (207 mW) and a slope efficiency of >2%. A powerful anti Stokes signal is generated via the nonlinear four wave mixing process. As amplifier or the broadband source, the device covers a wavelength (frequency) range of >330 nm (47 THz) when pumped at a wavelength of 1550 nm. Owing to the underlying principle of operation of the device being the nonlinear optical processes, the device is anticipated to operate over the entire transmission window of the chalcogenide glass ({\lambda}~1 10 \mum).