Supercontinuum generation in benzene-filled hollow-core fibers

Supercontinuum generation (SG) in fused silica photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) having a core infiltrated with liquid benzene is analyzed. Three PCF designs, with dimensions and chromatic dispersion optimized for SG using off-the-shelf femtosecond pulse lasers (1560 nm, 90 ps), are proposed. F1 fiber with lattice constant Λ = 1.5 μm and linear filling factor f = 0.45 has all-normal dispersion and offers SG in the 700- to 2000-nm band at relative power levels within 15 dB when pumped with 3 nJ pulses. F2 fiber (Λ = 1.5 μm, f = 0.6) enables SG in an anomalous dispersion regime, covering 600 to 2600 nm spectral range at relative power levels within 30 dB when pumped with low-energy pulses (1 nJ). The F3 fiber (Λ = 2.5 μm, f = 0.6) also exhibits mostly anomalous dispersion and makes possible SG in a very broad 600 to 3500 nm range at relative power levels within 30 dB when pumped with 2 nJ pulses.