Ultra-broadband supercontinuum generation in gas-filled photonic-crystal fibers: the epsilon-near-zero regime

In this Letter, we show theoretically that the nonlinear photoionization process of a noble gas inside a hollow-core photonic-crystal fiber can be exploited in obtaining broadband supercontinuum generation via pumping close to the mid-infrared regime. The interplay between the Kerr and photoionization nonlinearities is strongly enhanced in this regime. Photoionization continuously modifies the medium dispersion, in which the refractive index starts to significantly decrease and approach the epsilon-near-zero regime. Subsequently, the self-phase modulation induced by the Kerr effect is boosted because of the accompanied slow-light effect. As a result of this interplay, an output spectrum that comprises a broadband light with multiple dispersive wave emission is obtained.