Mid-infrared supercontinuum source and evanescent wave spectroscopy based on multiple tapered sections of a singleoptical chalcogenide glass rod

Mid-infrared supercontinuum sources are particularly important for identifying and characterizing molecules and materials through spectroscopy, thus enabling key applications. We here demonstrate the possibility of combining both mid-IR supercontinuum generation and evanescent wave spectroscopy in a single chalcogenide fiber device by means of heat-and-draw processes to manage linear and nonlinear wave-guiding properties.