Preprint

PUBDB-2026-00939

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Mid-infrared continua via spectral broadening and difference frequency generation in a nanophotonic lithium niobate waveguide

Ludwig, M. (Corresponding author)Extern* ; Ayhan, F. ; Voumard, T. ; Fan, W. ; Gaafar, M. A. ; Brasch, V. ; Villanueva, L. G. ; Herr, T. (Corresponding author)CFEL*DESY*

2025

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.3204/PUBDB-2026-00939

Abstract: Periodically poled thin film lithium niobate waveguides provide simultaneous access to efficient second and third order nonlinear processes, enabling broadband generation of coherent laser light. Here, we demonstrate the generation of a broadband mid-infrared continuum in a nanophotonic lithium niobate waveguide pumped by a telecom-wavelength femtosecond source. Specifically, our dual-stage design includes both third-order nonlinear spectral broadening followed by a dedicated periodically poled waveguide section performing efficient broadband intrapulse difference frequency generation. Driven by sub-100 fs pulses with approximately 200 pJ pulse energy, the generated mid-infrared light covers wavelengths from 3200 to 4800 nm. Cascaded harmonic generation also extends the spectrum into the visible and ultraviolet domains, resulting in an overall spectral bandwidth ranging from 350 to 4800 nm.

Keyword(s): Optics (physics.optics) ; FOS: Physical sciences

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. FS-CFEL-2-UMP (FS-CFEL-2-UMP)

Research Program(s):

1. 631 - Matter – Dynamics, Mechanisms and Control (POF4-631) (POF4-631)
2. STARCHIP - Microphotonics-based frequency combs for habitable exoplanet detection (853564) (853564)
3. iSenseDNA - Computation driven development of novel vivo-like-DNA-nanotransducers for biomolecules structure identification (101046920) (101046920)
4. VH-NG-1404 - Ultra-fast nonlinear microphotonics (2019_VH-NG-1404) (2019_VH-NG-1404)

Experiment(s):

1. Experiments at CFEL

Appears in the scientific report 2025

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Database coverage:
; ; Published

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Linked articles:

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Journal Article Ludwig, M. (Corresponding author)Extern* ; Ayhan, F. ; Voumard, T. ; Fan, W. ; Gaafar, M. A. ; Brasch, V. ; Villanueva, L. G. ; Herr, T. (Corresponding author)CFEL*DESY*
Mid-infrared continua via spectral broadening and difference frequency generation in a nanophotonic lithium niobate waveguide
Optics letters 51(7), 1708 - 1711 (2026) [10.1364/OL.583084]2026     Files BibTeX | EndNote: XML, Text | RIS

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