Supercontinuum generation in silicon photonic wires

We observe spectral broadening of more than 350 nm, i.e., a 3/10-octave span, upon propagation of ultrashort 1.3-μm-wavelength optical pulses in a 4.7-mm-long silicon-photonic-wire waveguide. We measure the wavelength dependence of the spectral features and relate it to waveguide dispersion and input power. The spectral characteristics of the output pulses are shown to be consistent, in part, with higher-order soliton radiative effects. © 2007 Optical Society of America.