Milliwatt-Level Spontaneous Emission Across The 3.5-8 Mu M Spectral Region From Pr3+ Doped Selenide Chalcogenide Fiber Pumped With A Laser Diode

A spontaneous emission fiber source operating in the mid-infrared (MIR) wavelength range from 3.5 to 8 mu m is demonstrated for the first time at output power levels of at least 1 mW. The source is a Pr3+-doped selenide chalcogenide, multimode, glass fiber pumped with commercially available laser diodes operating at 1.470 mu m, 1.511 mu m and 1.690 mu m. This MIR spontaneous emission fiber source offers a viable alternative to broadband mid-infrared supercontinuum fiber sources, which are comparatively complex and costly. The MIR emission wavelength range is significant for molecular sensing applications across biology and chemistry, and in medicine, agriculture, defense, and environmental monitoring.