Chalcogenide glasses as a medium for controlling parameters of ultrashort IR pulses: II

The propagation of ultrashort optical pulses in planar chalcogenide glass waveguides with uniform or periodic claddings is considered. In comparison with silica waveguides a structure based on chalcogenide glass provides higher nonlinearity. This material has a high normal dispersion in the wavelength range of 1.5–3.5 μm. Periodic waveguide structures can be used to compensate for this dispersion. High-intensity laser pulses propagating in these structures undergo spectral broadening. The influence of the phase self-modulation of a pulse on its spectrum and width is analyzed using numerical simulations.     

Dispersion characteristic of hexagonal and square lattice chalcogenide As2Se3 glass photonic crystal fiber

In this paper, we report a chalcogenide As₂Se₃ glass photonic crystal fiber (PCF) for dispersion compensating application. We have used the improved fully vectorial effective index method (IFVEIM) for comparing the dispersion properties (negative and zero dispersion) and effective area in hexagonal and square lattice of As₂Se₃ glass PCF using different wavelength windows. It has been demonstrated that due to their negative dispersion parameter and negative dispersion slope in wavelength range 1.2-2.5 μm, both lattice structures of As₂Se₃ glass PCFs, with pitch (Λ = 2 μm), can be used as dispersion compensating fibers. Further, design parameters have been obtained to achieve zero dispersion in these fibers. It is also shown that As₂Se₃ glass PCF provides much higher negative dispersion compared to silica PCF of the same structure, in wavelength range 1.25-1.6 μm and hence such PCF have high potential to be used as a dispersion compensating fiber in optical communication systems.     

Ultra broadband flat dispersion tailoring on reversed-rib chalcogenide glass waveguide

In this paper,we introduce a horizontal slot in the reversed-rib chalcogenide glass waveguide to tailor its dispersion characteristics.The waveguide exhibits a flat and low dispersion over a wavelength range of 1080 nm,in which the dispersion fluctuates between-10.6 ps·nm~(-1)·km~(-1) and +11.14 ps·nm~(-1)·km~(-1).The dispersion tailoring effect is due to the mode field transfer from the reversed-rib waveguide to the slot with the increase of wavelength,which results in the extension of the low dispersion band.Moreover,the nonlinear coefficient and the phase-matching condition of the fourwave mixing process in this waveguide are studied,showing that the waveguide has great potential in nonlinear optical applications over a wide wavelength range.     

Ge20Sb15Se65硫系玻璃光子晶体光纤的中红外色散特性

硫系玻璃与石英玻璃相比具有高折射率(2.0～3.5)、低声子能量(<350cm-1)、优良的中远红外透过性能(可至25μm)等特性.本文制备了一种在中红外具有优良透过特性的无As环保型Ge20Sb15Se65硫系玻璃材料,以此为基质材料设计了一种三层空气孔结构光子晶体光纤,利用多极法对光纤的中红外色散特性进行了数值模拟,系统研究了结构参量孔径d、孔间距Λ以及d/Λ对其色散特性的影响.分析表明:通过改变包层空气孔直径d或空气孔间距Λ,可灵活的调节光子晶体光纤的零色散波长向短波或长波方向移动.通过优化结构参量发现,当Λ=3μm,d/Λ=0.35附近变化时,可获得3～5μm色散平坦,且色散值小于5ps.nm-1.km-1的光子晶体光纤.     

Ge20Sb15Se65硫系玻璃光子晶体光纤的中红外色散特性

硫系玻璃与石英玻璃相比具有高折射率(2.0~3.5)、低声子能量 (<350 cm^-1)、优良的中远红外透过性能(可至25 μm)等特性.本文制备了一种在中红外具有优良透过特性的无As环保型Ge₂₀Sb₁₅Se₆₅硫系玻璃材料,以此为基质材料设计了一种三层空气孔结构光子晶体光纤,利用多极法对光纤的中红外色散特性进行了数值模拟,系统研究了结构参量孔径d、孔间距Λ 以及d/Λ 对其色散特性的影响.分析表明:通过改变包层空气孔直径d或空气孔间距Λ,可灵活的调节光子晶体光纤的零色散波长向短波或长波方向移动.通过优化结构参量发现,当Λ=3 μm,d/Λ=0.35 附近变化时,可获得3~5 μm色散平坦,且色散值小于5 ps·nm^-1·km^-1的光子晶体光纤.     

Hot-embossing fabrication of chalcogenide glasses rib waveguide for mid-infrared molecular sensing

Chalcogenide glasses have shown promise in fabricating mid infrared(MIR) photonic sensing devices due to their excellent optical properties in MIR. In addition, the glass transition temperature of chalcogenide glasses are generally low,making them ideal to create the high-throughput patterns of micro-scale structures based on hot embossing that is alternative to the standard lithographic technology. In this paper, we outline the research progress in the chalcogenide waveguide based on the hot embossing method, and discuss the problems remaining to be solved and the possible solutions.     

Direct laser-writing of dielectric-loaded surface plasmon–polariton waveguides for the visible and near infrared

We demonstrate flexible and low-cost fabrication of dielectric-loaded surface plasmon–polariton waveguides. The waveguide structures are fabricated by two-photon polymerization of commercially available, spin-coatable epoxy-based UV-lithographic resist on a metal covered glass slide. The excitation and guiding properties of the plasmonic waveguides are investigated in the far-field at a wavelength of 632.8 nm by imaging the leakage radiation from the waveguide modes. The optimum bending radius for right angle bends is measured to 6 μm providing a transmission of up to 70%. The functionality of more complex Y-splitters is demonstrated.     

Freely adjusted properties in Ge–S based chalcogenide glasses with iodine incorporation

In this study, we examined the function of halogen iodine acting as a glass network modifier in green chalcogenide glasses based on the Ge–S system. We obtained a series of Ge–S–I glasses and determined their glass-forming region. We then recorded the physical, thermal, and optical properties and studied the effect of halogen iodine on Ge–S–I glasses. Results show that these glasses have relatively wide optical transmission window for infrared (IR) applications. The softening temperature of Ge–S–I glasses varies from 210.54 °C to 321.63 °C, this temperature fits well with some kinds of high-temperature polymers, such as PES and PEI, the polymers serve as protective layers with high strength and flexibility, thus simplifying the fabrication processes of IR chalcogenide glass fiber. Finally, we performed a purification process to eliminate impurities and to improve optical spectra.     

Nonlinear bleachable media for the near IR range based on lead chalcogenide quantum dots (review)

We present a review of results from study of the nonlinear optical properties and relaxation processes in lead chalcogenide quantum dots embedded in glass matrices of various compositions, and also designs for bleachable media based on these materials for Q-switched and mode-locked solid-state lasers in the near IR range. We consider the conditions which should be satisfied by the spectroscopic characteristics of saturable absorbers for realization of passive Q-switching and mode-locking in solid-state lasers. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 74, No. 6, pp. 701–725, November–December, 2007.     

远红外Ge-Te-AgI硫卤玻璃光学性能

用传统熔融淬冷法制备了一系列(100－x)(GeTe4.3)－xAgI (x=5,10,20,30)硫卤玻璃.并通过阿基米德法、XRD衍射、差热分析、可见/近红外吸收光谱、红外透射光谱等手段研究了该硫卤玻璃的热稳定性和光学特性.研究表明随着AgI含量的增加,玻璃的密度从5.591 g·cm－3递增到6.314 g·cm－3|折射率从3.73上升到5.70|XRD衍射数据表明该玻璃体系在较宽的组分范围内没有微晶析出,说明成玻范围较宽|差热分析表明当x=5时玻璃有着最高的转变温度206 ℃|AgI含量增多时短波截止限发生红移,红外截止波长基本不变（均超过25 μm）,表明此硫卤玻璃材料在远红外领域有很大的潜在应用前景.     

Optical waveguide fabrication and integration with a micro-mirror inside photosensitive glass by femtosecond laser direct writing

Photosensitive glass is a potentially important material for micro-fluidic devices that can be integrated with micro-optical components for biochemical analysis. Here, we demonstrate the fabrication of optical waveguides inside glass by femtosecond laser direct writing. The influence of the laser parameters on the waveguide properties is investigated, and it is revealed that the waveguide mode can be well controlled. The single mode is achieved at a low writing energy, while the multimode is achieved with increasing energy. In spite of a longitudinally elongated elliptical shape of the cross-sectional profile, the far-field pattern of the single-mode waveguide shows an almost symmetric profile. The measured propagation loss and the coupling loss are evaluated to be ∼0.6 dB/cm and ∼1.6 dB at a wavelength of 632.8 nm, respectively, under the conditions of 1.0–2.0 μJ pulse energy and 200–500 μm/s scan speed. The increased optical loss is associated with a higher waveguide mode at higher writing energy. Furthermore, the integration of waveguides and a micromirror made of a hollow microplate inside the glass is demonstrated to bend the laser beam at an angle of 90° in a small chip. The bending loss is estimated to be smaller than 0.3 dB. PACS 42.62.-b; 42.82.Cr; 82.50.Pt; 42.79.Gn; 42.81.Qb     

Design of highly birefringent chalcogenide glass PCF: A simplest design

In this article, a new simplified structure of a highly birefringent chalcogenide As₂Se₃ glass photonic crystal fiber (PCF) is designed and analyzed by using fully vectorial finite element method. The effective indices, confinement loss, birefringence, and chromatic dispersion of fundamental polarized mode are calculated in the proposed PCF for a wide wavelength range. To maintain the polarization in chalcogenide As₂Se₃ glass PCF, we enlarged two of the central air holes and reduced two transverse air holes for achieving high birefringence. This helps in creating an effective index difference between the two orthogonal polarization modes. It is also shown that As₂Se₃ glass PCF provides lower chromatic dispersion and less confinement loss compared to silica PCF of the same structure in wavelength range 1.3 to 1.8 μm and hence such chalcogenide As₂Se₃ glass PCF have high potential to be used in dispersion compensating and birefringence application in optical communication systems. In addition to this, the polarization mode dispersion (PMD) result of the proposed PCF is also reported.     

等效折射率模型研究光子晶体光纤的色散特性

应用等效折射率模型对折射率导模光子晶体光纤的群速度色散特性进行了详细的讨论。由于光子晶体光纤由单一材料(SiO2)制成,光纤的波导色散决定了总色散,因此讨论中将群速度色散分解为波导色散和材料色散,研究了波导色散与光子晶体光纤的结构参量孔距∧、相对孔径f的关系。分析表明,在f一定的情况下,光子晶体光纤的波导色散与孔距∧的关系符合麦克斯韦方程的比例性质;而在孔距∧确定的情况下,光子晶体光纤的波导色散的零点、极小值点位置与f在所讨论的波长范围内存在线性关系。最后举例说明了通过调整光子晶体光纤的结构参量,可以灵活地设计其色散特性。     

Factors affecting optical dispersion in borate glass systems

Series of ternary glass systems namely, Na₂O, B₂O₃, and RO (R=Ba or Mg) doped with TiO₂ are synthesized. The present glasses are dictated by requirement for a small refractive index and a small nonlinear coefficient needed for waveguide and laser fabrication requirements. The effect of MgO and BaO as alkaline earth metals on the optical properties of the glass systems is investigated. The dependence of the refractive index and extinction coefficient dispersion curves on composition is carried out over a wavelength range of 0.3-. Applying a genetic algorithm technique, the parameters of Sellmeier dispersion formula that fit index data to accuracy consistent well with the measurements are given. The zero material dispersion-wavelength (ZMDW) and group velocity are also determined using the refractive index data. The Fermi level is calculated exploiting the extinction coefficient dispersion curves. The absorption coefficient, both direct and indirect optical energy gaps, and Urbach energy are evaluated using the absorption edge calculations. The different factors that play a role for controlling the refractive indices such as coordination number, electronic polarizability, field strength of cations, bridging and nonbridging oxygen, and optical basicity are discussed in accordance with the obtained index data. IR spectroscopy is used as a structural probe of the nearest-neighbor environment in the glass network.     

IR-poled second-harmonic generation in glass

Infrared (IR)-induced second-harmonic generation in the chalcogenide glasses is observed. A phenomenological approach of IR picosecond non-linear optical (NLO) response in glass is developed for the middle IR spectral range (5–15 μm). The observed effect is explained within the framework of fifth-order NLO susceptibilities. A model that reproduces the basic characteristics of the experimental data, in which the optical non-linearities caused by photoinduced electron–phonon anharmonic interactions, is proposed. The role of the IR-induced phase matching conditions in the observed phenomenon is discussed.     

Single resonant and widely tunable ultrathin cladding long-period fiber grating filters

A spectrally single resonant and widely tunable, ultrathin cladding long-period fiber grating (UCLPG) is demonstrated in the present paper. Both experimental and theoretical analyses of the characteristics for the proposed device are accomplished. Since the single resonant and widely tunable characteristics of the proposed UCLPG are strongly influenced by the waveguide structure and surrounding material, both material dispersion and waveguide dispersion were included in the calculation for determining the wideband tuning range and resonant spectra of the UCLPG. The tuning range covered wavelength from 1.41 to 1.56 μm for the variation of refractive index of 1–1.445 (optical liquid n _D 1:456 for λ 1:5 mm) is achieved in the study.     

Energy transport in plasmon waveguides on chains of metal nanoplates

An interest in energy transport in 3D chains of metal nanoparticles is oriented towards future applications in nanoscale optical devices. We consider plasmonic waveguides composed of silver nanoplates arranged in several geometries to find the one with the lowest attenuation. We investigate light propagation of 500-nm wavelength along different chains of silver nanoplates of subwavelength length and width and wavelength-size height. Energy transmission of the waveguides is analysed in the range of 400–2000 nm. We find that chain of short parallel nanoplates guides energy better than two electromagnetically coupled continuous stripes and all other considered nonparallel structures. In a wavelength range of 500–600 nm, this 2-μm long 3D waveguide transmits 39% of incident energy in a channel of λ × λ/2 cross section area.     

中红外色散平坦硫系光子晶体光纤设计及性能研究

本文以自制Ge20Sb15Se65硫系玻璃为基质材料,设计一种正八边形结构色散平坦型中红外硫系光子晶体光纤,并采用多极法对其中红外色散和传输特性进行数值研究.结果表明:控制该光纤占空比(d/Λ)在0.323—0.367之间,其色散及传输特性在3—5μm范围内可调.当孔间距Λ=3.4μm,孔直径d=1.1μm时,光纤在4.1—4.9μm波段的色散值在0.8—0.8 ps·nm 1·km 1波动,且具备单模低损耗传输(Loss0.049dB/m),小模场面积(Aeff8.46μm2)特性,适合于中红外非线性应用领域.     

Modelling of a simple Dy<Superscript>3+</Superscript> doped chalcogenide glass fibre laser for mid-infrared light generation

A simple Dy³⁺-doped chalcogenide glass fibre laser design for mid-infrared light generation is studied using a one dimensional rate equation model. The fibre laser design employs the concept of cascade lasing. The results obtained demonstrate that efficient cascade lasing may be achieved in practice without the need for fibre grating fabrication, as a sufficient level of feedback for laser action is provided by Fresnel light reflection at chalcogenide glass fibre–air interfaces. Further enhancement of the laser efficiency can be achieved by terminating one of the fibre ends with a mirror. A numerical analysis of the effect of the Dy³⁺ doping concentration and fibre loss on the laser operation shows that with 5 W of pump power, at 1.71 μm wavelength, output powers above 100 mW at ∼ 4.5 μm wavelength can be achieved with Dy³⁺ ion concentrations as low as 3 × 10¹⁹ cm⁻³, when fibre loss is of the order 1dB/m.     

On the properties and stability of thermally evaporated Ge–As–Se thin films

Thin films of Ge–As–Se chalcogenide glasses have been deposited by thermal evaporation from bulk material and submitted to thermal treatments. The linear refractive index and optical band-gap for as-deposited and annealed films have been analyzed as function of the deposition parameters, chemical composition and mean coordination number (MCN). The chemical composition of the films was found to be directly affected by deposition rate, with low rates producing films with elevated Ge and reduced As content, whilst at high rates the Ge content was generally reduced and As levels increased compared with the bulk starting material. As a result films with close to the same stoichiometry as the bulk glass could be obtained by choosing appropriate deposition conditions. As-deposited films with MCN in between 2.44 and 2.55 showed refractive indices and optical band-gaps very close to those of the bulk glass whereas outside this range the film indices were higher and the optical gaps lower than those of the bulk glass. Upon annealing at close to their glass transition temperature, high MCN films evolved such that their indices and band-gaps approached the bulk glass values whereas at low MCN films resulted in no changes to the film properties.