Three-Octave Supercontinuum Generation in Thick Crystalline Aluminum Nitride Waveguides

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a method to generate a broad supercontinuum spectrum spanning three octaves in crystalline aluminum nitride waveguides by dispersion engineering and optimized fabrication, enabling applications across visible to mid-infrared wavelengths.

Contribution

It introduces a novel fabrication and dispersion engineering approach for AlN waveguides that significantly extends supercontinuum generation into new spectral regions.

Findings

Supercontinuum spans from 550 nm to 4.5 μm.

Dispersion engineering enhances spectral reach.

Optimized fabrication improves efficiency.

Abstract

We report an efficient extension of supercontinuum generation through dispersion engineering of crystalline aluminum nitride (AlN)-on-sapphire waveguides. Using a tailored epitaxial regrowth of AlN epilayers and an optimized fabrication protocol, the dispersion sensitivity to the waveguide cross-section was enhanced allowing for a significant reach extension of both short and long dispersive wave with optimized pumping conditions, reaching down to 550 nm in the visible and up to 4.5 {\mu}m in the mid-infrared.