Failure and limitations of linear Raman gain approximation for fiber supercontinuum generation modelling

The propagation of short pulses in optical fibers is commonly modeled by the generalized Nonlinear Schrodinger equation which includes the frequency-dependence of the dispersion and nonlinear response and the non-instantaneous part of the nonlinear response of silica. It is also common to model the delayed -or Raman- response of silica based on the assumption of a material response that varies linearly with frequency. Here, we examine in detail the accuracy and limitations of this widely used approach. Our major conclusion is that the linear Raman gain approximation performs very poorly in parameter regimes typical of many experimental studies, introducing significant errors and artifacts into the spectral and statistical properties of the supercontinuum spectrum.

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