Compression Limit by Third-Order Dispersion in the Normal Dispersion Regime

Broadband continua at gigahertz rates generated in high-nonlinear dispersion-flattened fibers in the normal dispersion regime near the zero-dispersion wavelength can be used for a subsequent efficient pulse compression, leading to stable high-repetition-rate trains of femtosecond pulses. We show experimentally and theoretically that third-order dispersion defines a critical power, where beyond further compression is inhibited. This fundamental limit is caused by a pulse-breakup