Broadband supercontinuum generation in As2Se3 chalcogenide wires by avoiding the two-photon absorption effects.

We report the generation of a broadband supercontinuum (SC) spanning from 1260 to 2200 nm using a 10 cm long As2Se3 chalcogenide (ChG) wire pumped at a wavelength of 1550 nm. Such a wide SC in As2Se3 is obtained by avoiding the effects of two-photon absorption normally observed at a wavelength of 1550 nm. For this purpose, the pump soliton is initially self-frequency shifted toward longer wavelength by means of the Raman effect in standard silica fiber before being launched into the ChG wire for spectral broadening.