Abstract: A supercontinuum light source can include a seed laser arranged to provide seed pulses with a pulse frequency Fseed; a pulse frequency multiplier (PFM) arranged to multiply the seed pulses by converting pulses having the pulse frequency Fseed to pump pulses with a pulse frequency Fpump, where Fpump is larger than Fseed; and a non-linear element arranged to receive said pump pulses and convert said pump pulses to pulses of supercontinuum light. The PFM can further include a splitter for splitting pulses into first and second sub beams each having the same pulse frequency, where the PFM is configured such that the sub beams experience different delays; and a combiner for combining said first and second sub beams into a beam having the pulse frequency that is greater than said same pulse frequency. The splitter can have an uneven splitter ratio.

Abstract: A light source, including: a pulse generator for providing an initial sequence of light pulses, the initial sequence of light pulses including an initial number of light pulses within a predetermined time period, first and second optical arms, for propagating, respectively, first and second sequences of light pulses, each derived from the initial sequence of light pulses, wherein the first optical arm includes a first manipulator configured to generate the first sequence of light pulses from the initial sequence of light pulses, wherein the light source includes a nonlinear optical element arranged to receive the first sequence of light pulses or the second sequence of light pulses, and an optical switch arranged to switch that either the first sequence of light pulses or the second sequence of light pulses is received by the nonlinear optical element.

Abstract: A supercontinuum light source can include a seed laser arranged to provide seed pulses with a pulse frequency Fseed; a pulse frequency multiplier (PFM) arranged to multiply the seed pulses by converting pulses having the pulse frequency Fseed to pump pulses with a pulse frequency Fpump, where Fpump is larger than Fseed; and a non-linear element arranged to receive said pump pulses and convert said pump pulses to pulses of supercontinuum light. The PFM can further include a splitter for splitting pulses into first and second sub beams each having the same pulse frequency, where the PFM is configured such that the sub beams experience different delays; and a combiner for combining said first and second sub beams into a beam having the pulse frequency that is greater than said same pulse frequency. The splitter can have an uneven splitter ratio.

Abstract: A light source, including: a pulse generator for providing an initial sequence of light pulses, the pulse generator including an optical source for producing optical pulses; and a modulator in communication with the optical source for increasing or decreasing the selected number of pulses provided by the pulse generator in the selected time period; first and second optical arms, for propagating, respectively, first and second sequences of light pulses, wherein the first optical arm includes a first manipulator configured to generate the first sequence of light pulses from the initial sequence of light pulses, wherein the light source includes a nonlinear optical element arranged to receive the first sequence of light pulses or the second sequence of light pulses, and an optical switch arranged to switch either the first sequence of light pulses or the second sequence of light pulses for reception by the nonlinear optical element.

Abstract: A light source including: a pulse generator for providing a first sequence of light pulses, the first sequence of light pulses including a first number of light pulses within a predetermined time period, a manipulator configured to generate a second sequence of light pulses from the first sequence of light pulses, the second sequence of light pulses having a second number of light pulses within the predetermined time period, the second number being different from the first number, and a nonlinear optical element arranged to receive the second sequence of light pulses.

Abstract: A supercontinuum light source can include a seed laser arranged to provide seed pulses with a pulse frequency Fseed; a pulse frequency multiplier (PFM) arranged to multiply the seed pulses by converting pulses having the pulse frequency Fseed to pump pulses with a pulse frequency Fpump, where Fpump is larger than Fseed; and a non-linear element arranged to receive said pump pulses and convert said pump pulses to pulses of supercontinuum light. The PFM can further include a splitter for splitting pulses into first and second sub beams each having the same pulse frequency, where the PFM is configured such that the sub beams experience different delays; and a combiner for combining said first and second sub beams into a beam having the pulse frequency that is greater than said same pulse frequency. The splitter can have an uneven splitter ratio.

Abstract: A supercontinuum light source can include a seed laser arranged to provide seed pulses with a pulse frequency Fseed; a pulse frequency multiplier (PFM) arranged to multiply the seed pulses by converting pulses having the pulse frequency Fseed to pump pulses with a pulse frequency Fpump, where Fpump is larger than Fseed; and a non-linear element arranged to receive said pump pulses and convert said pump pulses to pulses of supercontinuum light. The PFM can further include a splitter for splitting pulses into first and second sub beams each having the same pulse frequency, where the PFM is configured such that the sub beams experience different delays; and a combiner for combining said first and second sub beams into a beam having the pulse frequency that is greater than said same pulse frequency. The splitter can have an uneven splitter ratio.

Abstract: A supercontinuum light source can include a seed laser arranged to provide seed pulses with a pulse frequency Fseed; a pulse frequency multiplier (PFM) arranged to multiply the seed pulses by converting pulses having the pulse frequency Fseed to pump pulses with a pulse frequency Fpump, where Fpump is larger than Fseed; and a non-linear element arranged to receive said pump pulses and convert said pump pulses to pulses of supercontinuum light. The PFM can further include a splitter for splitting pulses into first and second sub beams each having the same pulse frequency, where the PFM is configured such that the sub beams experience different delays; and a combiner for combining said first and second sub beams into a beam having the pulse frequency that is greater than said same pulse frequency. The splitter can have an uneven splitter ratio.

Abstract: A supercontinuum light source can include a seed laser arranged to provide seed pulses with a pulse frequency Fseed; a pulse frequency multiplier (PFM) arranged to multiply the seed pulses by converting pulses having the pulse frequency Fseed to pump pulses with a pulse frequency Fpump, where Fpump is larger than Fseed; and a non-linear element arranged to receive said pump pulses and convert said pump pulses to pulses of supercontinuum light. The PFM can further include a splitter for splitting pulses into first and second sub beams each having the same pulse frequency, where the PFM is configured such that the sub beams experience different delays; and a combiner for combining said first and second sub beams into a beam having the pulse frequency that is greater than said same pulse frequency. The splitter can have an uneven splitter ratio. The disclosure includes other embodiments as well.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microstructured optical fiber for generating supercontinuum light upon feeding of pump light. The light can be incoherent light. The microstructured optical fiber has a first section and a second section, where the first and second sections have one or more different features. The invention also relates to a supercontinuum source comprising a microstructured optical fiber according to the invention.

Abstract: A supercontinuum light source can include a seed laser arranged to provide seed pulses with a pulse frequency Fseed; a pulse frequency multiplier (PFM) arranged to multiply the seed pulses by converting pulses having the pulse frequency Fseed to pump pulses with a pulse frequency Fpump, where Fpump is larger than Fseed; and a non-linear element arranged to receive said pump pulses and convert said pump pulses to pulses of supercontinuum light. The PFM can further include a splitter for splitting pulses into first and second sub beams each having the same pulse frequency, where the PFM is configured such that the sub beams experience different delays; and a combiner for combining said first and second sub beams into a beam having the pulse frequency that is greater than said same pulse frequency. The splitter can have an uneven splitter ratio. The disclosure includes other embodiments as well.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microstructured optical fiber for generating supercontinuum light upon feeding of pump light. The light can be incoherent light. The microstructured optical fiber has a first section and a second section, where the first and second sections have one or more different features. The invention also relates to a supercontinuum source comprising a microstructured optical fiber according to the invention.

Abstract: A supercontinuum light source can comprise a seed laser arranged to provide seed pulses with a pulse frequency Fseed; a pulse frequency multiplier (PFM) arranged to multiply the seed pulses by converting pulses having the pulse frequency Fseed to pump pulses with a pulse frequency Fpump, where Fpump is larger than Fseed; and a non-linear element arranged to receive said pump pulses and convert said pump pulses to pulses of supercontinuum light. The PFM can further comprise a splitter for splitting pulses into first and second sub beams each having the same pulse frequency, where the PFM is configured such that the sub beams experience different delays; and a combiner for combining said first and second sub beams into a beam having the pulse frequency that is greater than said same pulse frequency. The splitter can have an uneven splitter ratio. The disclosure includes other embodiments as well.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microstructured optical fiber for generating incoherent supercontinuum light upon feeding of pump light. The microstructured optical fiber has a first section and a second section. A cross-section through the second section perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the fiber has a second relative size of microstructure elements and preferably a second pitch that is smaller than a blue edge pitch for the second relative size of microstructure elements. The invention also relates to an incoherent supercontinuum source comprising a microstructured optical fiber according to the invention.

Abstract: A supercontinuum light source includes a microstructured optical fiber, and a feeding unit arranged for feeding pump pulses to the microstructured optical fiber, wherein the feeding unit comprises a picosecond laser and one or more amplifiers, wherein the microstructured optical fiber is a silica fiber wherein at least a part of the core being of silica or doped silica, and including a core including core material and a cladding surrounding the core, and at least the core material is loaded with deuterium to have an OD absorption peak around 1870 nm, wherein the feeding unit is spliced to the microstructured optical fiber.

Abstract: An optical fiber includes a core and a cladding. The optical fiber includes a core material and a cladding material, respectively, wherein the fiber is a non-linear microstructured optical fiber, the microstructured optical fiber being obtainable by a method including loading with hydrogen and/or deuterium and optionally annealing and/or irradiation whereby the lifetime of the fiber may be extended in high power applications.

Abstract: A supercontinuum light source can comprise a seed laser arranged to provide seed pulses with a pulse frequency Fseed; a pulse frequency multiplier (PFM) arranged to multiply the seed pulses by converting pulses having the pulse frequency Fseed to pump pulses with a pulse frequency Fpump, where Fpump is larger than Fseed; and a non-linear element arranged to receive said pump pulses and convert said pump pulses to pulses of supercontinuum light. The PFM can further comprise a splitter for splitting pulses into first and second sub beams each having the same pulse frequency, where the PFM is configured such that the sub beams experience different delays; and a combiner for combining said first and second sub beams into a beam having the pulse frequency that is greater than said same pulse frequency. The splitter can have an uneven splitter ratio. The disclosure includes other embodiments as well.

Abstract: A supercontinuum light source comprising an intermediate supercontinuum light source and a single mode coupling unit, an optical measurement system comprising such light source, as well as a method of measuring are described. The supercontinuum light source comprises a pulse frequency multiplier to increase the repetition rate and the single mode coupling unit is arranged to dampen and shape the spectrum from the intermediate supercontinuum light source to allow measurements with a reduced noise floor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microstructured optical fiber for generating incoherent supercontinuum light upon feeding of pump light. The microstructured optical fiber has a first section and a second section. A cross-section through the second section perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the fiber has a second relative size of microstructure elements and preferably a second pitch that is smaller than a blue edge pitch for the second relative size of microstructure elements. The invention also relates to an incoherent supercontinuum source comprising a microstructured optical fiber according to the invention.

Abstract: A supercontinuum light source includes a microstructured optical fiber, and a feeding unit arranged for feeding pump pulses to the microstructured optical fiber, wherein the feeding unit comprises a picosecond laser and one or more amplifiers, wherein the microstructured optical fiber is a silica fiber wherein at least a part of the core being of silica or doped silica, and including a core including core material and a cladding surrounding the core, and at least the core material is loaded with deuterium to have an OD absorption peak around 1870 nm, wherein the feeding unit is spliced to the microstructured optical fiber.