H. Ahmad, I.A. Zuzamri, M.A.M. Lutfi, M.K.A. Zaini, Z. Mahmoodin, N. Yusoff, M.F. Ismail, K. Thambiratnam, Mousa Hussein
This study investigates the enhancement of the four-wave mixing (FWM) process in side-polished optical fibers (SPFs) operating in the 1.5-µm telecommunication band through functionalization with a Zinc-based Metal-Organic Framework (Zn-MOF) and Cobalt Oxide nanocomposite (Nb2CTx/Co3O4). The side-polishing technique creates a platform for intense evanescent-field interaction, significantly boosting local optical intensity and thereby strengthening the nonlinear response within a compact device footprint. The experimental setup employed two tunable continuous-wave laser sources as pump and signal inputs, which were combined and amplified by an erbium-doped fibre amplifier (EDFA) before being launched into a side-polished fibre (SPF). The deposition of Zn-MOF and Nb2CTx/Co3O4 composites onto the polished fiber surface yielded a substantial improvement in the nonlinear performance, with measured conversion efficiency enhancements of up to 16.0% compared to an uncoated SPF. A stability assessment conducted over 60 min confirmed the robust and consistent generation of the FWM idler. These findings underscore the potential of advanced-material-functionalized SPFs as efficient, compact nonlinear platforms for all-optical signal processing in the conventional telecommunication band. © 2026
Photonics Research Centre, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia; Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Malang, Jalan Semarang 5, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Universiti Kuala Lumpur British Malaysian Institute (UniKL BMI), Batu 8, Jalan Sungai Pusu, Selangor, 53100, Malaysia; Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia; Physics Department, Kulliyyah of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, 25200, Malaysia; Department of Electrical and Communication Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
