Abstract
Nonlinear phenomena in microstructured fibers (MSFs) is defined by dispersive properties of a fiber. Zero dispersion wavelength (ZDW) and pump source wavelength play an important role in estimating the nonlinear effects and thus are subject of wide investigations. Multiple nonlinear processes like: four wave mixing (FWM), cross phase modulation (XPM), cannot be very efficient without phase matching which is achieved when a fiber is pumped in anomalous dispersion region. On the other hand, other nonlinear processes, such as self-phase modulation (SPM) and Raman scattering (RS), profit from pumping fiber in normal dispersion region. Thus the efficiency of supercontinuum (SC) generation in a fiber is dependent on its chromatic dispersion properties, which can be tailored by the proper fiber geometry design, and by the pump source wavelength. In our paper we present experimental analysis of SC generation obtained for a series of nonlinear MSFs. Our fibers have different ZDW and therefore when pumped by the same pump source, different nonlinear effects contribute to the SC generation. We analyze and explain the influence of ZDW on nonlinear effects. Comparisons of nonlinear interactions for fibers pumped in anomalous and normal dispersion regimes are provided. In our silica MSFs an ultra-short UV radiation was obtained by nonlinear processes estimation. We provide experimental analysis of MSFs geometrical parameters influence on UV conversion efficiency. Our studies present effective SC generation in near infrared, visible and UV ranges. Unique information about the influence of MSFs geometry on UV generation efficiency gives possibility to increase its application potential.
