Operating range of efficient Raman converters based on nanofibers immersed in different liquids

Abstract

We present the operating range of Raman wavelength converters based on silica nanofibers immersed in liquids for the design of all fibered wavelength converters. This range is bounded on the lower limit by the pump energy necessary to reach the Raman threshold and on the upper limit by the laser induced breakdown of the nanofiber. These breakdown energies are measured in the ns regime for different liquids (water, ethanol, isopropanol) and for air. We finally define guidelines that open the way to a new family of low-cost compact and efficient all-fibered Raman converters that can be directly inserted in optical fibered networks with very low losses.