Mid-infrared generation beyond 3.5 µm in a graded-index silica fiber.

We present theoretical as well as experimental evidence of far-detuned nonlinear wavelength conversion towards the mid-infrared, namely beyond 3.5 µm, in a few-mode graded-index silica fiber pumped at 1.064 µm. We take into account the full frequency-dependence of the propagation constants, which allows us to obtain excellent agreement of theoretical predictions with experimental observations and provides new and accurate interpretation of intramodal and intermodal four-wave mixing processes in few-mode fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]