Patent ID: 9158177
Filing Date: 2015-10-13
Classification: G02F,H01S

Abstract:
1. A supercontinuum optical source, comprising: a laser source apparatus comprising at least one laser, said laser source apparatus configured for providing first and second signals; a modulator apparatus downstream of at least one laser of the laser source apparatus for modulating at least one of the first and second signals; an amplifier downstream of the modulator apparatus, said supercontinuum optical source configured such that the amplifier amplifies the first and second signals; a nonlinear optical element in optical communication with and downstream of both the modulator apparatus and the amplifier for providing selected spectral broadening responsive to the first signal, said supercontinuum optical source configured such that said nonlinear optical element receives the second signal as well as the first signal; a length of delivery fiber in optical communication with said nonlinear optical element, said length of delivery fiber having at one end a beam delivery module for providing an output beam from the supercontinuum optical source; and wherein said beam delivery module comprises a discrimination device for removing at least part of the second signal or at least part of any signal generated nonlinearly by the nonlinear optical element responsive to the second signal from the supercontinuum optical source output beam.