ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR EFFICIENT NON-LINEAR LIGHT CONVERSION

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement and a method for efficient, non-linear light conversion. The object of the present invention of specifying an arrangement for efficient, non-linear light conversion, which simultaneously optimally fulfills the local conversion rate, the interaction scale, and the dispersive properties, is achieved in that the arrangement is provided in the form of a component, which comprises an optical waveguide or an optical fiber with or without cavities, wherein said arrangement consists of fiber cladding substrate or waveguide substrate (IV) with an adapted geometry, which defines the light-guiding properties of the fiber mode with designed dispersion properties (VI), and wherein the waveguide or the core carries a grown, atomically-thin layer of transition metal dichalcogenides in the form of crystallites, wherein this layer completely or partially covers the waveguide or the core.

Claims

1. A light conversion arrangement in a form of an optical fiber with a core and with or without cavities, consisting of a fiber cladding substrate or a waveguide substrate (IV) with an adapted geometry, which defines the light-guiding properties of the fiber mode with designed dispersion properties (VI), characterized in that a core carries a grown, atomically-thin layer of transition metal dichalcogenides in the form of crystallites, wherein the layer completely or partially covers the core, the crystallites are stochastically ordered, and the layer is located as a monolayer on a wave-guiding region of the core and is grown directly on the core of the fiber by chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the waveguide or the core carries the layer of transition metal dichalcogenides over a length of 30 μm up to a few centimeters.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1 , characterized in that the transition metal dichalcogenides are MoS.sub.2, WS.sub.2, MoSe.sub.2, MoS.sub.2(1-x)Se.sub.2x, WS.sub.2(1-x)Se.sub.2x, MoS.sub.2WS.sub.2, MoSe.sub.2, WSe.sub.2, MoS.sub.2NbSe.sub.2, MoSe.sub.2NbSe.sub.2, MoSSe, or WSSe.

4. The arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the layer of transition metal dichalcogenides is provided with a cover layer.

5. A method for producing an optical component according to claim 1, in which, under a reactive atmosphere with precursor gases for the deposition of transition metal dichalcogenides directly on the surface of the waveguide or of the core (VI) during convective or forced transport of the atmosphere (V; VII) onto the surface (II) of the waveguide or of the core or of the inner surface (III), an atomically-thin layer of transition metal dichalcogenides is grown on said surface by means of chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition in a reactor vessel for producing atmospheric parameters (VIII).

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, after the growth of the layer of transition metal dichalcogenides, a post-treatment takes place in which a modification of the transition metal dichalcogenides takes place by induction of defects by means of plasma or by ion beam damage damage.

7. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that functionalization of the layer of transition metal dichalcogenides takes place by means of enrichment by means of coupling with selectively reactive groups.

8. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that functionalization of the layer of transition metal dichalcogenides by the passivation thereof takes place by overlaying with a protective layer.

9. Use of an The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement is designed for efficient, non-linear light conversion.

Description

[0080] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the schematic drawing and the exemplary embodiment. The figures show:

[0081] FIG. 1a: a schematic representation of an embodiment of the component according to the invention,

[0082] FIG. 1b: the component according to the invention according to FIG. 1a in its intended use,

[0083] FIG. 2a: an ECF-based 2-DFWG, in which PL is excited by a fiber mode and is emitted into the free space and into the fiber mode and can be detected in both directions,

[0084] FIG. 2b: an optical microscope image of the MoS.sub.2-coated ECF with MoS.sub.2 crystals on the exposed core part of the fiber (clearly visible as bright triangles), as well as the associated inset of a typical Raman spectrum of MoS.sub.2 monolayer crystals grown on an ECF,

[0085] FIG. 2c: a cross-section SEM image of the core region of the ECF (bright regions are SiO.sub.2 regions, while dark regions are free of material), wherein the gas flow at the CVD reactor is indicated by orange arrows,

[0086] FIG. 2d: a standard representation of the simulated electrical field distribution of the fundamental fiber mode at 1,570 nm,

[0087] FIG. 2e: a cross-section PL mapping of MoS.sub.2-coated ECF, which is superimposed with an SEM image for better understanding,

[0088] FIGS. 3a-c: a fiber-integrated PL and transmission measurement, in which the laser/white-light source is coupled into the guided mode of the TMDC-coated ECF. There, it excites excitons in the TMDC coating, which emit PL back into the fundamental mode. The PL signal is then recorded after it is propagated through the fiber.

[0089] FIG. 3a: a false color image of PL, which is excited by a 532 nm laser in a MoS.sub.2-coated ECF, wherein the background image is the backside of the ECF recorded by the same camera,

[0090] FIG. 3b: a normalized PL spectra of MoS.sub.2- and WS.sub.2-coated ECF excited by a 532 nm laser,

[0091] FIG. 3c: a transmission spectrum through a MoS.sub.2-coated ECF, wherein a white LED light source is used for transmission measurement (note that the values are strongly influenced by measurement inaccuracy, since the light source is not powerful for this spectral range).

[0092] FIGS. 4a-g: third harmonic spectra. The THG band of 540 to 560 nm is marked in orange (inset) and shows the power dependence of the THG for the MoS.sub.2-coated ECF, with cubical fit,

[0093] FIG. 4b: log plot of the non-linear polarization field that induces the THG. The field is determined by the third power of the FM and the local non-linear effect of SiO.sub.2 and MoS.sub.2, wherein the inset is a zoom of the exposed surface, which illustrates the strong contribution of the highly localized, non-linear polarization of MoS.sub.2,

[0094] FIG. 4c: modal THG overlap coefficients at a TH wavelength of 550 nm calculated for all HOM's k in proximity to the phase matching point. The PM range is marked in blue. The stacked, colored bars mark the contributions of the SiO.sub.2 core (blue) or MoS.sub.2 coating (orange) to γ.sub.k.sup.THG,

[0095] FIG. 4d: an image of the light distribution of the THG field at the end of an uncoated ECF,

[0096] FIG. 4e: an image of the light distribution of the THG field at the end of a MoS.sub.2-coated ECF,

[0097] FIG. 4f: an image at the end of the ECF as a superimposition of M.sub.1 and M.sub.2 with a power distribution of 80/20, approximately according to the overlap coefficients γ.sub.k.sup.THG for the uncoated ECF, and

[0098] FIG. 4g: simulated image at the end of the ECF as a superimposition of the M.sub.1, M.sub.2, and M.sub.3, according to a 62/13/25 power distribution, approximately according to the overlap coefficients for the MoS.sub.2-coated ECF.

[0099] The arrangement/component shown in FIG. 1a consists of an optical waveguide or an optical fiber/fiber cladding substrate or waveguide substrate (IV) with an adapted geometry, which defines the light-guiding properties of the fiber mode/the fiber modes/of the structured, wave-guiding, fiber core with designed dispersion properties (VI).

[0100] In addition, the mode can overlap with the physical surface of the waveguide/the outer waveguide surface (V) or with an accessible cavity/the inner waveguide surface (VII).

[0101] In addition, during convective or forced transport of the atmosphere to the surface of the waveguide or of the fiber (II) or of the inner surface, during convective or forced transport of the atmosphere along cavities of the waveguide or of the fiber (III), a cover, produced by means of chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition in a reactor/reactor vessel for producing atmospheric parameters (VIII), in the form of a grown, atomically-thin layer of transition metal dichalcogenides, is located on the surface, wherein the cover is completely or partially and the orientation of the crystallites is stochastically ordered.

[0102] Transition metal dichalcogenides are, particularly advantageously, MoS.sub.2, WS.sub.2, MoSe.sub.2, MoS.sub.2(1-x)Se.sub.2x, WS.sub.(1-x)Se.sub.2x, MoS.sub.2WS.sub.2, MoSe.sub.2WSe.sub.2, MoS.sub.2NbSe.sub.2, MoSe.sub.2NbSe.sub.2, MoSSe, or WSSe.

[0103] By a post-treatment, this arrangement can be provided with a cover layer, which is applied by means of a suitable method.

[0104] As shown by way of example in FIG. 1b, light (IX) can be coupled into the mode of the arrangement, wherein, as a result of the non-linear interaction in the fiber mode/in the non-linear waveguide with TMDC coating (X), this light can be converted to decoupled, non-linearly modified light (XI) or to new light in the form of decoupled, non-linearly generated light (XII).

[0105] This conversion is largely based upon the non-linear interaction within the TMDC layer.

[0106] In this case, three-wave or four-wave mixing can be used as the non-linear interaction, wherein the coupled-in light represents one or more pump waves.

[0107] The interaction can moreover be modulated by the fiber dispersion and the mode properties.

[0108] The modified or newly-generated light (useful light) can be decoupled from the fiber and can thus be used.

[0109] In this case, the interaction is singly or multiply degenerate as well as spontaneous or non-spontaneous.

[0110] The interaction can be based upon sum frequency generation, difference frequency generation, generation of second harmonic, generation of third harmonic, self-phase modulation, supercontinuum generation, stimulated Raman scattering, or generation of dispersive waves.

[0111] Which mediate interaction between different guided modes of the waveguide at different wavelengths.

[0112] The method for chemical vapor deposition of monolayer MoS.sub.2 and WS.sub.2 crystals on the core of microstructured exposed-core optical fibers, e.g., on the core of a microstructured silica glass fiber with exposed core (also referred to as ECF), comprises the following steps, in order to deposit individual crystals or a few atomic layers of thick-layer TMDC's over fiber lengths of a few centimeters: [0113] 1. Derivation/selection of a suitable waveguide or of an optical fiber with favorable properties for the particular application, and significant energy transport on the surface of the waveguide or in a cavity. These include: [0114] a low mode cross-section for increasing the light intensity at a given power and for increasing the relative mode portions, which are guided in cavities, [0115] sufficiently low optical losses for the particular application, due to absorption, scattering, bending, or unfavorable guiding properties, and [0116] favorable dispersion properties, as are, for example, required for the phase matching of non-linear waves.

[0117] In this case, the waveguide or the fiber is selected from a base material which entails favorable mode properties and is sufficiently temperature-stable enough to pass through the coating process without damage. Photonic crystal fibers of SiO.sub.2 or etched waveguides made of SiO.sub.2 or Si are favorable in this context. [0118] 2. Growth of TMDC's on the surface of the fiber or of the waveguide or in a cavity in a gas-phase-based coating process, e.g., in a CVD reactor or an ALD reactor with suitable precursor gases and, optionally, with the aid of further energy suppliers, such as reactive chemicals or plasmas. The reactor must provide the appropriate precursors, produce the appropriate ambient conditions at the desired deposition position, and guide the reaction mixture to the deposition position. [0119] 3. Optionally, a post-treatment may also take place as needed. This post-treatment can serve to modify the TMDC's (e.g., by induction of defects by means of plasma or ion-beam damage damage) or to functionalize them (by enrichment with selectively reactive groups) or to passivate them, e.g., by overlaying with a protective layer. [0120] 4. Steps 2 and 3 can be repeated.

[0121] In the component thus produced, light is coupled into the mode of the waveguide as intended. The light is transported through the waveguide and interacts, with a portion of the mode, with the TMDC's, the non-linearly induced polarization of which causes conversion of the guided light, wherein the generated light is again preferably propagated in the fiber mode. Subsequently, the converted light is decoupled.

[0122] By means of this method, scalable functionalization of optical fibers with atomically-thin semiconductors is possible.

[0123] The arrangement produced by means of scalable and reproducible growth of high-quality atomic layers on optical fibers/the components produced with the atomically-thin transition metal dichalcogenides are very well suited for integrated optoelectronic and photonic systems due to their exciton-driven, linear and non-linear, light-material interaction, wherein their integration into optical fibers opens up new possibilities in optical communication, contactless measurement technology, and fiber opto-electronics.

[0124] For example, the arrangement/the component opens up different possible applications of 2-D-functionalized waveguides in glass fiber technology.

[0125] Simultaneous excitation and collection of photoluminescence of the excitonic 2-D material with the fiber modes is thus possible, which enables a new path for remote exploration.

[0126] The highly localized, non-linear polarization of the monolayer can also be changed by the third harmonic generation, which opens up a new path for adapting non-linear optical processes in fibers.

[0127] This is made possible by growing TMDC's (monolayer TMD's) directly on the optical core of microstructured fibers with exposed core (ECF's) and converting them into 2-DFWG's in a scalable process. In particular, the growth of MoS.sub.2 and WS.sub.2 monolayer crystals on the optical core of silica glass ECF are of particular importance, in that their interaction with the evanescent fields entails highly-localized modes. As a result of the modified chemical vapor deposition process, growth is made possible, which results in accumulations of monolayer TMDC crystals of high quality with a typical length of 30 μm on ECF's with a length of a few centimeters.

[0128] This scalable technique smoothes the way for 2-DFWG's as a new tool for integrated optical architectures, active glass fiber networks, distributed sensor systems, and photonic chips.

[0129] The possible functionalities of these 2-DFWG's are set out in the two following exemplary embodiments.

[0130] The first exemplary embodiment shows the fiber-based excitation and collection of photoluminescence (PL), which can smooth ways for future experiments in excitonic systems and remote, fiber-based sensor schemes.

[0131] The second exemplary embodiment shows the manner in which the highly non-linear TMDC coating changes the non-linear wave dynamics in ECF's by examining amplified third harmonic generation (THG). In general, this shows that 2-DFWG's can be used to improve and adjust the non-linear response of integrated wave systems without changing the guided modes themselves, resulting in new applications in non-linear light conversion and optical signal processing.

[0132] The overall concept of these two exemplary embodiments is shown in FIG. 2 (a). The ECF's are coated with MoS.sub.2 crystals and WS.sub.2 crystals on the entire surface of the groove, which also forms the upper surface of the ECF core. A laser is coupled into the fundamental mode (FM) of the ECF, which interacts with the TMDC's via the evanescent part of the mode. The resulting polarization; e.g., PL or third harmonic (TH) light, is coupled back into the fiber mode or into the free space, where it can be collected for further analysis.

[0133] An optical microscope image of the coated, exposed side of the ECF is shown in FIG. 2b, together with high-quality MoS.sub.2 crystals. The focal plane of the image is selected to correspond to the bottom of the groove, which extends over the entire length of 60 mm of the coated ECF, which simultaneously forms the top of the exposed core.

[0134] FIG. 2c shows a cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the core region of the ECF [an SEM image of the entire ECF cross-section is shown in FIG. 3a]. The core is suspended from three struts of silica glass. The upper boundary of the core forms the bottom of a groove, which extends along the entire length of the ECF. In the CVD reactor, the upper boundary of the core is thus completely exposed to the CVD reactants.

[0135] In this way, monolayer TMDC crystals are grown on the entire surface of the ECF, and thus also on the exposed surface of the fiber core. Their size, distribution, and thickness can be set in the growth process.

[0136] After careful optimization, monolayers are almost exclusively grown, as evident from the inset of FIG. 2b, which shows a typical Raman spectrum of the MoS.sub.2 crystals on the ECF, which has characteristic distances between the Raman modes for monolayers.

[0137] Examples of alternative growth modes along with their Raman spectra are shown in FIGS. 3c through e.

[0138] The core of the ECF has a diameter ˜2 μm and supports two non-degenerate FM's that are largely polarized along the x- and y-directions. However, the x-polarized FM, oriented with the polarization parallel to the coated surface, has a better field overlap with the TMDc layer, and its polarization is aligned to the large X.sub.xxxx.sup.(3) components of the non-linear tensor of the TMDC's. All experiments and simulations are therefore performed with the x-polarized FM. Its field distribution was calculated numerically and is shown in FIG. 2d for a wavelength λ.sub.0=1,570 nm.

[0139] Due to the small size of the core, the FM, with an effective area of about 3.5 μm.sup.2, is greatly limited. 1.6% of the electromagnetic energy flows in the air region above the core of the ECF and can thus effectively interact with the TMDC crystals.

First Exemplary Embodiment: Waveguide Photoluminescence

[0140] First, the position and PL activity of the TMDC crystals, which are grown on the curved ECF core, is checked by performing a cross-section PL emission measurement.

[0141] The PL map shown in FIG. 2e is superimposed with a cross-section SEM image of the ECF for better understanding. Illumination and collection of PL light are guided laterally through the groove of the uncut ECF. It should be noted that the PL follows the outline of the ECF, which indicates that the TMDC crystals have grown in direct contact with the entire surface of the ECF. It should be noted that the part of the PL light that extends downwards from the image center is caused by diffraction at the ECF core and its interaction with the confocal diaphragm, and does not indicate the presence of TMDC's in the core.

[0142] A PL map along the propagation direction and a PL spectrum are shown in FIG. 4.

[0143] The guided wave excitation of PL in 2-DFWG's is facilitated by the excitation and decomposition of excitons in the TMDC coating.

[0144] Excitons in TMDC's are particularly advantageous, since they have spin-valley coupling and are important for the emission of single photons.

[0145] A green (λ=532 nm) laser of uncontrolled polarization is coupled into the ECF, which excites the evanescent field of the FM excitons.

[0146] PL from the TMDC monolayers is either emitted into the free space or coupled back into the ECF mode.

[0147] The remission into guided modes was observed by imaging the end face of the fiber and by measuring the spectrum. The results are shown in FIGS. 3a and b.

[0148] The image of the PL at the front facet of the ECF is long-pass-filtered to remove residual laser radiation and then shown in FIG. 3a. For better orientation, a microscope image of the ECF itself is superimposed. The PL light is clearly emitted from the guided modes in the core of the ECF. This light is then analyzed by spectroscopy, wherein exciton peaks at 678 nm (MoS.sub.2) and 622 nm (WS.sub.2) are measured. This means that the evanescent field of the guided modes can be used to both excite and collect PL, so that 2-DFWG's, such as TMDC-coated ECF's, are highly interesting for integrated excitonics and non-contact sensor system applications.

[0149] The lateral emission into the free space was observed with a laterally-mounted camera that imaged the bottom of the ECF groove. Composite images of the distribution of PL are thus achieved over a substantial part of the ECF, and thus a distribution of PL-active TMDC crystals.

[0150] From the image of a MoS.sub.2-coated fiber, the distribution and the cumulative length of monolayer crystals on the ECF can be extracted. For this specific exemplary embodiment, 39 different MoS.sub.2 crystals with an average length per crystal of 25 μm and a fill factor of 5.4% are present, although the coverage in later batches can be significantly increased after further optimization of the method.

[0151] A transmission spectrum through the ECF is shown in FIG. 3c. It is obtained by coupling white light into MoS.sub.2-coated ECF. This spectrum is shown with the imaginary part of the refractive index of MoS.sub.2; the two absorption peaks 619 nm and 671 nm can thus be clearly identified with the characteristic exciton resonance of TMDC.

Second Exemplary Embodiment Amplification of the Third Harmonic

[0152] TMDC's are also particularly advantageous due to their highly non-linear optical response per thickness. In third-order processes, this is quantified by the non-linear refractive index n.sub.2 with a value of n.sub.2.sup.MoS.sup.2˜2.7.Math.10.sup.−16 m.sup.2/W for TMDC's transmitted on waveguides. At about four orders of magnitude more than silica glass, it is extremely large, although lower values are reported on planar substrates.

[0153] A TMDC coating may thus substantially contribute to non-linear effects in ECF's, although less than 10.sup.−4 of the energy flow of the FM in the TMDC is localized at each wavelength. The influence on the non-linearity can be quantified by calculating the respective contributions of the MoS.sub.2 coating and of the SiO.sub.2 core to the total self-phase modulation coefficient γ=γ.sub.MoS.sub.2+γ.sub.SiO.sub.2.sup.33. In fact, it can be found that γ.sub.MoS.sub.2>γ.sub.SiO.sub.2 for a wavelength of more than 1,470 nm, i.e., the non-linear contribution of the TMD coating dominates for large wavelengths. It should be noted that even larger γ.sub.MoS.sub.2 can be achieved by optimizing the field overlap of the FM with the TMDC coating, in order to open up the path for TMDC-improved, supercontinuum generation experiments, for example.

[0154] While many non-linear, third-order processes are observed in fibers, THG is particularly advantageous, since it is based upon the simultaneous interaction of non-linearity, mode matching, and phase matching (PM). In this case, no significant change in PM occurs due to the TMDC coating, since all linear mode properties, with the exception of losses, are not influenced by the TMDC coating.

[0155] The ECF's of the design used here have PM only for higher TH modes (HOM's) at a TH wavelength of approx. 550 nm, which corresponds to a fundamental wavelength of 1,650 nm.

[0156] In order to show that THG is actually improved, TH is with a pulsed laser, which functions at a wavelength of λ.sub.0=1,570 nm and a pulse duration of 32 fs.

[0157] FIG. 4a shows the TH spectrum for three different input energies for an uncoated and an MoS.sub.2-coated ECF. In this case, there is consistently more THG in the MoS.sub.2-coated ECF, which means that the TMDC coating amplifies the THG process. This is particularly advantageous, since the MoS.sub.2-coated ECF's have a linear loss of approx. 60% over their length, and the comparison is performed for the same input energy.

[0158] As a result of phase matching, TH is not observed exactly at one third of λ.sub.0, but in a spectral band of 540 nm to 560 nm, which is marked separately in FIG. 4a.

[0159] The spectrum of the fundamental wave (FW) spectrum must therefore first be broadened non-linearly in a THG-relevant sub-band between 1,620 nm and 1,680 nm so that TH can be generated. This explains the somewhat stronger than cubic scaling in the inset of FIG. 4a. The similarity of the TH spectrum for both ECF types again makes it clear that the phase matching (PM) between FW and TH is indeed not influenced by the MoS.sub.2 coating.

[0160] Since PM modification is thus excluded, the present TH improvement must be associated with the process of non-linear light generation itself.

[0161] This process is driven by the non-linear polarization field

[00001]$P^{\mathrm{THG}}\left(\frac{{\lambda }_0}{3}\right)=E_x^3\left(x,y;{\lambda }_0\right).Math.{\chi }_{\mathrm{xxxx}}^{\left(3\right)}\left(x,y\right)e_x.$

Here, E.sub.x(x,y) is the x component of the electrical field of the FW mode, and X.sub.xxxx.sup.(3)(x y) is the dominating element of the non-linear tensor of the THG process for the TMDC coating or the silica core. FIG. 4b shows the form of P.sup.THG in a logarithmic scale.

[0162] There are two important contributions: the spatially smooth, non-linear polarization from the SiO.sub.2 core and the strong, but highly-localized, contribution of the TMDC coating—better visible in the inset.

[0163] The TH radiation thus generated is distributed to the TH modes, the size of which is determined by an individual overlap coefficient γ.sub.k.sup.(THG) for each TH mode. The addition of the TMDC coating thus does not improve the non-linear interaction for all HOM's equally, but increases those that are located near the surface and are provided with prevailing x polarization.

[0164] This mode-selective, non-linear amplification is quantified in FIG. 4c, where γ.sub.k.sup.(THG) values for all TH HOM's close to the PM point are shown. The PM range contains 11 HOM's and is characterized by the shading. The contribution of SiO.sub.2 and MoS.sub.2 is marked in different colors. While γ.sub.k.sup.(THG) grows all HOM's, the growth for all modes is very differently pronounced, i.e., the improvement is mode-selective.

[0165] In order to confirm this model and compare it to the experiment, only the three HOM's with the highest γ.sub.k.sup.(THG)-values, marked in FIG. 3c with M.sub.1 through M.sub.3, are analyzed. The most dominant HOM is the M.sub.1 mode at n.sub.M.sub.1.sup.eff=1.379. γ.sub.M.sub.2.sup.(THG) is approximately doubled by the MoS.sub.2 coating. The second strongest contribution to the uncoated ECF comes from the M.sub.2 mode at n.sub.M.sub.2.sup.eff=1.366, γ.sub.M.sub.2.sup.(THG) increases after application of the TMDC coating by a factor of ˜2.5. However, it is here overtaken by the M.sub.3 mode at n.sub.M.sub.2.sup.eff=1.383, which almost quadruples its γ.sub.M.sub.2.sup.(THG) value.

[0166] The mode-selective improvement of the overlap coefficients is reflected in the spatial distribution of the TH light, as they are shown in the in Figs. and e, which were recorded by a camera, focused on the end face of the ECF's.

[0167] The single peak at the top of the ECF is replaced by a wider and weaker triple peak distribution for the MoS.sub.2-coated ECF. Moreover, the field is less localized and extends further into the bottom strut for the MoS.sub.2-coated ECF. Qualitatively, both distributions can be reproduced by a simple superimposition of the M.sub.1, M.sub.2, and M.sub.3 modes as shown in FIGS. 4f and g, wherein the superimposition coefficients are selected according to the relative values of the overlap coefficients γ.sub.M.sub.1-3.sup.(THG) with and without MoS.sub.2 coating. The modification at both the upper and the lower edges of the image is remarkably well reproduced for such a simple model—particularly in view of the large uncertainties of the linear and non-linear coefficients of MoS.sub.2 and the effects of the random distribution of the crystals on the ECF.

[0168] These two exemplary embodiments show that high-quality, crystalline monolayer TMDC's, e.g., MoS.sub.2 and WS.sub.2, which can be grown directly on the core of microstructured, exposed-core fibers in a scalable CVD process, bring about functionalization of optical fibers, and thus create a new platform for and for utilizing the electro-optical properties of TMDC's. Excitonic and non-linear functionalization is demonstrated in two case studies. First, we excite and collect the excitonic photoluminescence of monolayers in the optical fiber, which enables access to, for example, remote sensing schemes and provides a new platform for investigating excitonic effects.

[0169] These two exemplary embodiments also show that TMDC's can subtly change and amplify non-linear optical processes, which the investigations of the mode-selective amplification of the third harmonic generation show. This can improve the design freedom for highly non-linear guided wave systems and can be used in non-linear fiber devices.

[0170] Overall, the direct growth of 2-D materials on waveguides into TMDC's opens up a new path for scalable and reproducible functionalization of waveguides, fibers, and other integrated optical systems.

[0171] All features shown in the description, the exemplary embodiments, and the following claims can be essential to the invention, both individually and in any combination.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0172] I—Reactive atmosphere with precursors for deposition of TMDC's [0173] II—Convective or forced transport of the atmosphere onto the surface of the waveguide or the fiber [0174] III—Convective or forced transport of the atmosphere along cavities of the waveguide or the fiber [0175] IV—Fiber cladding substrate or waveguide substrate [0176] V—Outer waveguide surface [0177] VI—Structured, wave-guiding fiber core with designed dispersion properties [0178] VII—Inner waveguide surface [0179] VIII—Reactor vessel for setting atmospheric parameters [0180] IX—Coupled-in light [0181] X—Non-linear waveguide with TMDC coating [0182] XI—Decoupled, non-linearly modified light [0183] XII—Decoupled, non-linearly generated light