Abstract: A laser light source device is disclosed, which reduces the coherence of the laser light and inexpensively achieves a visually recognizable level of speckle reduction without use of a mechanical driving means. The laser light source device includes: laser modules, each including a laser light source, an intensity modulation unit to apply intensity modulation to laser light emitted from the laser light source, and a first waveguide to receive the intensity-modulated laser light from the laser light source and output the laser light from an output end thereof; and a second waveguide including an input end optically connected to a light outputting area of the first waveguides to receive the laser light outputted from the first waveguides, the first waveguides being closely bundled in the vicinity of output ends thereof, wherein a core of the second waveguide at the input end is larger than the light outputting area.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein to provide monoblock lasers that may provide improved performance and/or reduce manufacturing costs. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a monoblock laser includes a gain block to generate the light at the first wavelength and a Q switch to receive and polarize the light from the gain block and provide pulsed light that is polarized and at the first wavelength, with the monoblock laser configured in an internal OPO configuration. The monoblock laser may include a film between the gain block and a common substrate and/or include various techniques for aligning various optical elements within the monoblock laser.

Abstract: A laser frequency stabilizing device comprises a laser light producer operative to produce and emit a laser light containing a first and a second longitudinal mode light having different wavelengths; a spectrometer operative to spectrally decompose the laser light into the first longitudinal mode light and the second longitudinal mode light; a first detector operative to detect the light output signal from a absorption cell; a second and third detector operative to detect the signal intensity of the first and second longitudinal mode light; an actuator operative to change the resonant cavity length; a first drive controller operative to detect the saturated absorption signal from the light output signal detected at the first detector and control driving the actuator based on the saturated absorption signal; a second drive controller operative to control driving the actuator such that the signal intensity of the first longitudinal mode light detected at the second detector and the signal intensity of the secon

Abstract: A semiconductor laser excitation solid laser control device 1A according to the present invention is a control device for stabilizing a light quantity of an output light LO of a semiconductor laser excitation solid laser 2. The control device 1A comprises: a beam splitter 11A for branching a laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser excitation solid laser 2 into the output light LO and a control light LC; a light reception element 12 for detecting the light quantity of the control light LC branched by the beam splitter 11A; and control means 13 for controlling the light quantity of the laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser excitation solid laser 2 so that the light quantity detected by the light reception element 12 will be constant. The beam splitter 11A has a transmittance and a reflectivity not depending on the polarization characteristic of the laser light.

Abstract: A controller, such as a programmable logic controller, may manipulate a phase and/or polarization module to alter and/or control the phase and polarization of input beams. Utilizing active phase and polarization control can enable the combination of any arbitrary number of input beams into a single, combined beam. Utilizing active phase and polarization control can also enable the combination of input beams having arbitrary power levels.

Abstract: The present invention provides optical configurations, including resonant cavity and laser configurations, and related methods providing deterministic control of the polarization characteristics and frequencies of the radiant output of multi-longitudinal mode lasers, including multi-longitudinal mode gas phase lasers. Polarization control provided by the present invention includes preselection and stabilization of the angular orientations of the polarization planes of electromagnetic radiation generated by a multi-longitudinal mode laser, including preselection and stabilization of orthogonal linear polarization states generated by a dual-longitudinal mode gas phase laser.

Abstract: A communication system has lighting equipment that has transmitter comprising multiple light-emitting elements that each emit light of different wavelengths and terminal equipment that has light-receiver comprising multiple light-receiving elements that receive optical signals for each of the different wavelengths.

Abstract: A laser device is equipped with an exciting optical system having a GaN semiconductor laser and a condensing lens; and a resonator having of a dichroic mirror and an output mirror, and a solid laser medium is disposed within the resonator. The solid laser medium is disposed in the resonator such that the c axis of a crystal is parallel to the x axis. The exciting optical system is disposed such that the direction in which excitation light emitted from the GaN semiconductor laser is polarized is parallel to the y axis, and is formed so as to absorb excitation light in the crystal axis perpendicular to the c axis. The direction in which the oscillation light emitted from the solid laser medium is polarized coincides with a direction parallel to the c-axis direction, and also coincides with a direction along the x axis.

Abstract: Fiber lasers for producing Band I wavelengths include a laser cavity having an optical fiber with specific parameters in length and thickness and doping concentration, and having high reflectivities. Examples show the feasibility of producing such fiber lasers. Fiber lasers for producing Band IV wavelengths include a depolarized laser oscillator, at least one amplifier and a polarizer. Depolarized laser oscillator is an inherently depolarized CW laser, or a depolarized laser diode, which is depolarized by a depolarizer. Additional fiber lasers in accordance with embodiments of the present invention include a double clad active optical fiber having a pump power entry point for sending pump energy through the active optical fiber in a first direction, and a loop portion at a second end of the fiber for sending pump energy through the active optical fiber in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: A photoelastic modulator, comprising a driving block and a driver transducer for perturbing said block in a predefined direction to establish a standing wave extending longitudinally in said block and hence perpendicularly to said predefined direction. The transducer is affixed to said block at two regions of the transducer mutually displaced in said predefined direction, to minimize the coupling of lateral perturbation perpendicular to the predefined direction. A recess or gap may be provided under the transducer.

Abstract: A system for producing a laser light pulse is disclosed. The system includes a travelling wave or ring laser incorporating a gain medium with polarizing means for introducing substantially polarized radiation having a first polarization state into the travelling wave laser and output coupling means to substantially output couple radiation having an output polarization state from the travelling wave laser. The system further includes polarization changing means incorporated into the optical path of the travelling wave laser for changing the polarization of radiation having the first polarization state to a seeding polarization state, wherein radiation with the seeding polarization state seeds the gain medium, and radiation intensity modulation means for modulating the intensity of radiation in the travelling wave laser to vary the feedback of radiation into the gain medium, wherein the radiation intensity modulation means also modulates the radiation with respect to the output coupling means.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for generating short pulses, said device being characterised in that it comprises: a polarised pulse laser (10, 2, 3) having a polarisation direction; a bi-refringent optical fibre (6) having bi-refringence axes, wherein said polarisation direction is not co-linear with said bi-refringence axes; an output polariser (9) provided at the output of said fibre, said polariser being capable of selecting a polarisation at the output of said fibre; wherein said pulse laser in a longitudinally quasi-single mode laser.

Abstract: A degree of polarization control device includes: a calcium fluoride crystal substrate for transmitting a laser beam; a polarization monitor for measuring the degree of polarization of a laser beam transmitted through the calcium fluoride crystal substrate; and a controller for controlling the rotation angle of the calcium fluoride crystal substrate according to the degree of polarization measured by the polarization monitor; the calcium fluoride crystal substrate being formed by a flat plate having a laser beam entering surface and a laser beam exiting surface running in parallel with the (111) crystal face, the Brewster angle being selected for the incident angle, the rotation angle around the [111] axis operating as a central axis being controlled by the controller.

Abstract: A fiber laser cavity that includes a laser gain medium for receiving an optical input projection from a laser pump. The fiber laser cavity further includes a positive dispersion fiber segment and a negative dispersion fiber segment for generating a net negative dispersion for balancing a self-phase modulation (SPM) and a dispersion induced pulse broadening/compression in the fiber laser cavity for generating an output laser with a transform-limited pulse shape.

Abstract: Apparatus for attenuating an unpolarized laser beam includes a polarizing beamsplitter for separating the laser beam into two plane-polarized beams following separate paths. The two plane-polarized beams are polarization rotated by a single polarization rotator. Each of the polarization-rotated beams is separated by a polarizing beam-combiner into two plane-polarized portions. One of the portions of one polarization-rotated beam is combined by the beam-combiner with one of the portions of the other polarization-rotated beam to provide an attenuated output-beam. In certain examples of the apparatus the separate paths are made equal in length so that combined beam portions are equal in diameter.

Abstract: Speckle effect in display system is reduced by utilizing the instability of phase-coherent light and the transmission of the instable phase-coherent light through a multi-mode optical fiber with a suitable length.

Abstract: A lasing method including the steps of providing a laser resonator; utilizing birefringence compensation in said resonator whereby said resonator is induced to operate in a Laguerre-Gaussian higher order mode; and utilizing polarized outcoupling of lasing energy at said higher order mode from said resonator. In the illustrative application, the laser resonator is a high-power, solid-state laser resonator. In the specific embodiment, the inventive method further includes the step of changing an outcoupling preference for a non-degenerate high-order Laguerre-Gaussian mode. In one embodiment, the step of changing outcoupling preference includes the step of changing an outcoupling polarization. In another embodiment, the step of changing outcoupling preference includes the step of changing an orientation of a roof edge of a prism in the laser resonator.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of operating a laser source is provided. The laser source comprises a laser configured to generate an optical signal, and a polarization split and delay unit that is coupled to the optical signal. The polarization split and delay unit is configured to split the optical signal into a first and second orthogonally polarized component, create an optical path difference ?L between the first and second orthogonally polarized components and combine the first and second orthogonally polarized components into a combined signal. The method comprises modulating the optical signal by applying a wavelength modulation signal to the laser such that the modulated optical signal comprises at least a first wavelength ?1 and a second wavelength ?2, wherein the first wavelength ?1 and the second wavelength ?2 are separated by a wavelength difference ??.

Abstract: Enantiomers are characterized, identified, synthesized and/or modified with a shaped laser pulse. In another aspect of the present invention, binary shaping and circular polarization are employed with a laser pulse. A further aspect of the present invention provides a quarter-wave plate in combination with one or more pulse shapers.

Abstract: An ultrafast laser system includes a seed laser that provides a signal laser pulse and a fiber-based first chirped reflective Bragg grating that reflects the signal laser pulse propagating along a first path and produce a stretched laser pulse longer than the signal laser pulse. A grating frequency of the first chirped reflective Bragg grating varies along the first path. An amplifier can amplify the stretched laser pulse and output an amplified laser pulse. A second chirped reflective Bragg grating can reflect the amplified laser pulse and produce a compressed laser pulse shorter than the amplified laser pulse. The amplified laser pulse propagates along a second path in the second chirped reflective Bragg grating. A grating frequency of the second chirped reflective Bragg grating varies in an opposite direction along the second path as the grating frequency of the first chirped reflective Bragg grating varies along the first path.

Abstract: A surface-emitting semiconductor laser component, in particular an electrically pumped semiconductor laser component, featuring emission in a vertical direction. The component is provided for the generation of laser radiation by means of an external optical resonator (4, 5). The component comprises a semiconductor body with a semiconductor layer sequence (2) having a lateral main direction of extension and an active zone (3) provided for generation of radiation. A radiation-transmissive contact layer (6) is arranged within the resonator and is electrically conductively connected to the semiconductor body.

Abstract: A laser arrangement is provided, in which a Lyot filter arrangement is operative to effect single mode operation. The birefringent element of the Lyot filter arrangement has a cavity folding mirror on one side thereof and a polarizing element on another side thereof, such that the free spectral range of the Lyot filter is improved. Preferably, the Lyot filter arrangement and the laser gain material are located in different branches of the folded cavity.

Abstract: A resonator cavity (10A) and method are provided. The resonator cavity (10A) includes at least one gain medium (16) and end reflectors (12, 14) which define together longitudinal modes of light in the cavity, and further includes an intra-cavity beam coupler assembly (20). The beam coupler assembly (20) is configured to split light impinging thereon into a predetermined number of spatially separated light channels, and to cause phase locking and at least partial coherent combining of the light channels, having common longitudinal and transverse modes, in a double pass through the beam coupler assembly (20). The resonator cavity (10A) is configured and operable to produce at least one output combined light channel of a predetermined intensity profile.

Abstract: A laser light source device is disclosed, which reduces the coherence of the laser light and inexpensively achieves a visually recognizable level of speckle reduction without use of a mechanical driving means. The laser light source device includes: laser modules, each including a laser light source, an intensity modulation unit to apply intensity modulation to laser light emitted from the laser light source, and a first waveguide to receive the intensity-modulated laser light from the laser light source and output the laser light from an output end thereof; and a second waveguide including an input end optically connected to a light outputting area of the first waveguides to receive the laser light outputted from the first waveguides, the first waveguides being closely bundled in the vicinity of output ends thereof, wherein a core of the second waveguide at the input end is larger than the light outputting area.

Abstract: A laser irradiation apparatus is provided in which the occurrence of adverse effects on an object to be irradiated with a laser beam due to the difference in the polarization state between pulsed laser beams can be prevented or significantly reduced when the pulsed laser beams emitted from two laser light sources are guided to pass through the same optical path for irradiation of an object to be irradiated with the pulsed laser beams. The laser irradiation apparatus is provided with a first laser light source 3, a second laser light source 4, an optical path combining optical member 7 which guides the pulsed laser beams emitted from the first laser light source 3 and the second laser light source 4 to pass through the same optical path, and a polarization control member 9 which controls polarization state of the pulsed laser beam from the optical path combining optical member 7.

Abstract: Techniques, devices and applications of polarization stable lasers to provide laser operations against changes, variations or fluctuations in optical polarization in a laser cavity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical frequency synthesizer and an optical frequency synthesizing method using femtosecond laser optical injection locking, which inject a femtosecond laser optical frequency comb into a diode laser, thus obtaining single-mode laser light, phase-locked to only a single mode in the optical frequency comb, and which change the optical frequency and interval, that is, the repetition rate, of a femtosecond laser, together with the frequency of a semiconductor laser, thus scanning optical frequencies while realizing a single desired optical frequency. The optical frequency synthesizer using femtosecond laser optical injection locking, includes a mode-locked femtosecond laser (110), which is a master laser, and a diode laser (120), which is a slave laser and into which laser light emitted from the femtosecond laser is injected.

Abstract: An optical apparatus comprising a gain medium exhibiting polarisation dependent absorption along two axes, the gain medium having a weakly absorbing axis and a strongly absorbing axis, an optical pump source arranged to direct pump light towards a first face of the gain medium such that the pump light entering the gain medium has a component of its polarisation parallel to the weakly absorbing axis, a polarisation modifying apparatus and one or more reflectors which are together arranged to modify the polarisation of pump light which exits the gain medium through a second face of the gain medium, and to direct the pump light with modified polarisation back towards said second face of the gain medium.

Abstract: A controller, such as a programmable logic controller, may manipulate a phase and/or polarization module to alter and/or control the phase and polarization of input beams. Utilizing active phase and polarization control can enable the combination of any arbitrary number of input beams into a single, combined beam. Utilizing active phase and polarization control can also enable the combination of input beams having arbitrary power levels.

Abstract: A laser and monitoring system is provided. In another aspect of the present invention, the system includes a laser, pulse shaper and detection device. A further aspect of the present invention employs a femtosecond laser and binary pulse shaping (BPS). Still another aspect of the present invention uses a laser beam pulse, a pulse shaper and a SHG crystal. In yet another aspect of the present invention, a multiphoton intrapulse interference phase scan (hereinafter “MIIPS”) method is used to characterize the spectral phase of femtosecond laser pulses and to correct them. A further aspect of the system of the present invention is employed to monitor environmental chemicals and biological agents, including toxins, explosives, and diseases.

Abstract: Provided is a Vertical External Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VECSEL). The VECSEL includes a semiconductor chip, a pump laser, a narrow bandwidth polarization filter, an external mirror, and a Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) element. The semiconductor chip includes an active layer generating light having a wavelength and a reflective layer reflecting the light generated in the active layer. The pump laser emits a pump beam for exciting the active layer. The narrow bandwidth polarization filter is formed on the semiconductor chip and polarizes the light. The external mirror faces the active layer, amplifies the light emitted from the active layer by repeatedly reflecting the light toward the reflective layer, and outputs the amplified light out of the VECSEL. The SHG element is disposed between the narrow bandwidth polarization filter and the external mirror and converts the wavelength of the light.

Abstract: A control system and apparatus for use with an ultra-fast laser is provided. In another aspect of the present invention, the apparatus includes a laser, pulse shaper, detection device and control system. A multiphoton intrapulse interference method is used to characterize the spectral phase of laser pulses and to compensate for any distortions in an additional aspect of the present invention. In another aspect of the present invention, a system employs multiphoton intrapulse interference phase scan. Furthermore, another aspect of the present invention locates a pulse shaper and/or MIIPS unit between a spectral dispersion point in a laser oscillator and an output of a laser amplifier.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of operating a laser source is provided. The laser source comprises a laser configured to generate an optical signal, and a polarization split and delay unit that is coupled to the optical signal. The polarization split and delay unit is configured to split the optical signal into a first and second orthogonally polarized component, create an optical path difference ?L between the first and second orthogonally polarized components and combine the first and second orthogonally polarized components into a combined signal. The method comprises modulating the optical signal by applying a wavelength modulation signal to the laser such that the modulated optical signal comprises at least a first wavelength ?1 and a second wavelength ?2, wherein the first wavelength ?1 and the second wavelength ?2 are separated by a wavelength difference ??.

Abstract: The optical level control device independently controls the intensities of two beams having different wavelengths that are emitted from a laser oscillator, and the optical level control device comprises a wavelength-dependent wavelength plate and a polarization beam splitter. The wavelength-dependent wavelength plate functions as a half-wave plate with respect to the first light wave and as a full-wave plate with respect to the second light wave. Only the rotation angle of the polarization beam splitter about the optical axis is adjusted to set the intensity of the second light wave transmitted rectilinearly through the polarization beam splitter. The polarization beam splitter is then fixed at the adjusted angle, and the rotation angle of the wavelength plate about the optical axis is adjusted to set the intensity of the first light wave.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accurately retrieving the position of an optical feature. The method uses the optical properties of biaxial crystals to conically refract the optical feature and transform the image of the optical feature to a circular ring structure. The position of the optical feature is then calculated by locating a center point associated with the circular ring structure.

Abstract: Examples and implementations of photonic devices and techniques based on whispering gallery mode resonators formed of electro-optic materials to effectuate cross modulation between whispering gallery modes of different polarizations in the resonators.

Abstract: A fiber laser cavity that includes a laser gain medium for receiving an optical input projection from a laser pump, wherein the laser cavity further includes a normal dispersion fiber segment with a ??>0 where ?? representing a fiber dispersion, and an anomalous dispersion fiber segment with the ??<0 for generating a net anomalous dispersion for balancing a self-phase modulation (SPM) and a dispersion induced pulse broadening/compression in the fiber laser cavity for generating an output laser with a transform-limited pulse shape wherein the segment with the anomalous dispersion further includes a Photonic Crystal (PC), a Photonic Bandgap (PBG) or a higher order mode (HOM) fiber.

Abstract: A fiber laser cavity that includes a laser gain medium for receiving an optical input projection from a laser pump. The fiber laser cavity further includes a positive dispersion fiber segment and a negative dispersion fiber segment for generating a net negative dispersion for balancing a self-phase modulation (SPM) and a dispersion induced pulse broadening/compression in the fiber laser cavity for generating an output laser with a transform-limited pulse shape wherein the laser gain medium further amplifying and compacting a laser pulse. The gain medium further includes a Ytterbium doped fiber for amplifying and compacting a laser pulse. The fiber laser cavity further includes a polarization sensitive isolator and a polarization controller for further shaping the output laser.

Abstract: A polarization gain medium such as an emitting laser diode provides the optical pumping. An atomic vapor cell is positioned in the laser cavity providing spontaneous push-pull optical pumping inside the laser cavity. This causes the laser beam to be modulated at hyperfine-resonance frequency. A clock signal is obtained from electrical modulation across the laser diode.

Abstract: A frequency-tripled laser-resonator has three resonator-branches. The branches are optically connected with each other by one or more polarization-selective devices. Unpolarized fundamental radiation is generated by optically pumping a gain-element in one branch of the resonator. The polarization-selective device provides that radiation in the other branches is plane-polarized, with the polarization planes of radiation entering the branches perpendicular to each other. Two optically nonlinear crystals are located in one of the branches of the resonator in which the fundamental radiation is plane-polarized and arranged to generate third-harmonic radiation. Three-branch resonators including two gain-elements having a optical relay therebetween, and a three-branch ring-laser-resonator are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fiber laser cavity that includes a laser gain medium for receiving an optical input projection from a laser pump. The fiber laser cavity further includes a positive dispersion fiber segment and a negative dispersion fiber segment for generating a net negative dispersion for balancing a self-phase modulation (SPM) and a dispersion induced pulse broadening/compression in the fiber laser cavity for generating an output laser with a transform-limited pulse shape wherein the wherein said laser gain medium further comprising a double cladding Ytterbium-doped Photonics crystal fiber (DC YDPCF) for amplifying and compacting a laser pulse. The fiber laser cavity further includes a polarization sensitive isolator and a polarization controller for further shaping the output laser.

Abstract: A fiber laser cavity that includes a laser gain medium for receiving an optical input projection from a laser pump. The fiber laser cavity further includes a positive dispersion fiber segment and a negative dispersion fiber segment for generating a net negative dispersion for balancing a self-phase modulation (SPM) and a dispersion induced pulse broadening/compression in the fiber laser cavity for generating an output laser with a transform-limited pulse shape. The fiber laser cavity further includes a polarization controller controlled and driven by an electronically tunable driver tapping a small portion of an output laser of the fiber laser cavity to process and filtering the small portion of the output laser to drive the polarization controller to adjust a polarization state of a laser transmission in the laser system whereby the laser cavity is an electronically-tuned self-starting polarization-shaping mode-locked fiber laser.

Abstract: A fiber laser cavity that includes a laser gain medium for receiving an optical input projection from a laser pump. The fiber laser cavity further includes a positive dispersion fiber segment and a negative dispersion fiber segment for generating a net negative dispersion for balancing a self-phase modulation (SPM) and a dispersion induced pulse broadening/compression in the fiber laser cavity for generating an output laser with a transform-limited pulse shape.

Abstract: A mode-locked laser employs a coupled-polarization scheme for efficient longitudinal pumping by reshaped laser diode bars. One or more dielectric polarizers are configured to reflect a pumping wavelength having a first polarization and to reflect a lasing wavelength having a second polarization. A Yb-doped gain medium can be used that absorbs light having a first polarization and emits light having a second polarization. Using such pumping with laser cavity dispersion control, pulse durations of less than 100 fs can be achieved.

Abstract: A laser system using ultrashort laser pulses is provided. In another aspect of the present invention, the system includes a laser, pulse shaper and detection device. A further aspect of the present invention employs a femtosecond laser and a spectrometer. Still another aspect of the present invention uses a laser beam pulse, a pulse shaper and a SHG crystal. In yet another aspect of the present invention, a multiphoton intrapulse interference phase scan system and method characterize the spectral phase of femtosecond laser pulses. Fiber optic communication systems, photodynamic therapy and pulse characterization tests use the laser system with additional aspects of the present invention.

Abstract: A micro-structured optics apparatus includes a concave microlens to expand a beam of light, a reflector to provide a first reflection of at least a portion of the beam of light and a micro-Fresnel lens to collimate the at least a portion of the beam of light after the expansion.

Abstract: A thin film includes a substrate and a transparent, porous film of organic material, such as 8-hydroxyquinoline aluminum. The organic material is vapor deposited on the substrate such that the film has distinct helical columns extending away from the substrate.

Abstract: Optical systems configured for both changing the length of a laser pulse and operating as an optical isolator are disclosed. In some embodiments, optical isolation is achieve contemporaneously with laser pulse expansion or compression by using a grating based compressor or expander as one of the polarization elements of the optical isolator. In some embodiments, optical isolation is achieved contemporaneously with laser pulse expansion or compression by using a mode converter and a Bragg fiber as one of the polarization elements of the optical isolator. In some embodiments, a sub-wavelength polarizer including magnetic garnet is included in the optical isolator.

Abstract: The hologram recording technology expected to realize ultrahigh-density information recording is one of the post Blu-ray Disc technology. When we think about developing a drive based on this technology and suitable for consumer electronics, it is considered most desirable from the viewpoint of upward compatibility to solve the problem of the BD-compatibility. The problem in sharing the laser light source between the hologram recording device and the current optical disc device, however, is that the hologram recording requires a high-coherent, single-mode light beam, while the current optical discs requires a low-coherent, multi-mode light beam. In point of the coherence of the light source, the above two cases require the light beams of the characteristics opposite to each other, and this presents an important task.

Abstract: A light source unit and a spectrum analyzer are provided in which the influence of interference can be reduced under conditions where light is separated into spectral components. A spectrum analyzer 1 is equipped with a light source unit 2 for irradiating light onto sample A, a detector unit 3 for detecting the light reflected, scattered, or transmitted from the sample A, and a sample stage 4 on which a sample A is placed. A wide band light source 20 generates wide band light P1 such as supercontinuum light (SC light). Also, the light source unit 2 has an interference suppressing means for suppressing the interference of each wavelength component of the wide band light P1.