Phenomenological model for spectral broadening of incoherent light in fibers via self-phase modulation and dispersion

TL;DR

This paper introduces a phenomenological model that qualitatively predicts spectral broadening of incoherent light in silica fibers caused by self-phase modulation and dispersion, supported by numerical and experimental validation.

Contribution

It presents a simple, accessible model for incoherent light spectral broadening in fibers, bridging phenomenological approximation with numerical and experimental results.

Findings

Model accurately predicts spectral broadening in fibers.

Validation through numerical simulations and experiments.

Applicable to both narrowband and broadband incoherent light.

Abstract

A phenomenological model for spectral broadening of incoherent light in silica fibers via self-phase modulation and dispersion is presented, aiming at providing a qualitative and readily accessible description of incoherent light spectral broadening. In this model, the incoherent light is approximated by a cosine power-modulated light with modulation parameters depending on the coherent time and the dispersion in fibers. A simple and practical method for spectral broadening predictions is given and demonstrated by both the straightforward NLSE-based numerical modeling and series of experiments including narrowband and broadband incoherent light in passive fibers and fiber amplifiers.