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Intermodal four-wave mixing in silicon core fibers: enabling versatile wavelength conversion in the mid-infrared range

Intermodal four-wave mixing in silicon core fibers: enabling versatile wavelength conversion in the mid-infrared range
Intermodal four-wave mixing in silicon core fibers: enabling versatile wavelength conversion in the mid-infrared range

Highly nonlinear silicon core fibers (SCFs) that offer extended mid-infrared transmission provide a unique platform for efficient wavelength conversion within the 3-5 µm atmospheric window of use for free-space communications and remote sensing. Here, we numerically explore an intermodal four-wave mixing (FWM) scheme that allows for wide spectral translation using large, few-micron-sized-diameter SCFs, well-suited for transmitting the newly generated long-wavelength light. This scheme can be implemented in practical all-fiber devices using tapered nanospike couplers, enabling compact and integrated systems. Benefitting from the unique feature of intermodal zero dispersion, we predict that using only a 25 mm long SCF, it is possible to achieve wide conversion bandwidths (>300 nm) and very high efficiencies (2-15%) when pumped with a single fiber-based source at 1.95 µm. The all-fiber conversion scheme eliminates the need for bulky pump sources and mode converters, showcasing the unique advantages of SCFs for wide-ranging mid-infrared applications.

1094-4087
44267-44282
Ren, Haonan
9f7d7696-dbc6-4dd4-a2b8-6527e9d023ea
Huang, Meng
79b89531-8bb9-4ab8-889a-c85b3b64d684
Liu, Xinze
a35516df-dcda-4370-b1f4-9e50a748c9b1
Peacock, Anna
685d924c-ef6b-401b-a0bd-acf1f8e758fc
Ren, Haonan
9f7d7696-dbc6-4dd4-a2b8-6527e9d023ea
Huang, Meng
79b89531-8bb9-4ab8-889a-c85b3b64d684
Liu, Xinze
a35516df-dcda-4370-b1f4-9e50a748c9b1
Peacock, Anna
685d924c-ef6b-401b-a0bd-acf1f8e758fc

Ren, Haonan, Huang, Meng, Liu, Xinze and Peacock, Anna (2025) Intermodal four-wave mixing in silicon core fibers: enabling versatile wavelength conversion in the mid-infrared range. Optics Express, 33 (21), 44267-44282. (doi:10.1364/OE.575856).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Highly nonlinear silicon core fibers (SCFs) that offer extended mid-infrared transmission provide a unique platform for efficient wavelength conversion within the 3-5 µm atmospheric window of use for free-space communications and remote sensing. Here, we numerically explore an intermodal four-wave mixing (FWM) scheme that allows for wide spectral translation using large, few-micron-sized-diameter SCFs, well-suited for transmitting the newly generated long-wavelength light. This scheme can be implemented in practical all-fiber devices using tapered nanospike couplers, enabling compact and integrated systems. Benefitting from the unique feature of intermodal zero dispersion, we predict that using only a 25 mm long SCF, it is possible to achieve wide conversion bandwidths (>300 nm) and very high efficiencies (2-15%) when pumped with a single fiber-based source at 1.95 µm. The all-fiber conversion scheme eliminates the need for bulky pump sources and mode converters, showcasing the unique advantages of SCFs for wide-ranging mid-infrared applications.

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Accepted/In Press date: 29 September 2025
Published date: 10 October 2025
Additional Information: Publisher Copyright: © 2025 Optica Publishing Group (formerly OSA). All rights reserved.

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 506841
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/506841
ISSN: 1094-4087
PURE UUID: 54c7b9ec-8d70-49eb-b048-dad4f9d2c136
ORCID for Meng Huang: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-5233-8519
ORCID for Anna Peacock: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-1940-7172

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Date deposited: 18 Nov 2025 18:21
Last modified: 20 Nov 2025 03:06

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Contributors

Author: Haonan Ren
Author: Meng Huang ORCID iD
Author: Xinze Liu
Author: Anna Peacock ORCID iD

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