Patent ID: 12001051

Abstract:
The invention relates to a supercontinuum source comprising a pump light source arranged to emit pump light and a nonlinear fiber having a core arranged to receive the pump light. The supercontinuum comprises infrared wavelengths generated in the nonlinear fiber from the pump light. The nonlinear fiber has a dispersion profile comprising—a zero dispersion wavelength,—a positive peak value at a peak wavelength longer than the zero dispersion wavelength,—a minimum value of dispersion at a minimum wavelength longer than the peak wavelength. The pump light is arranged to comprise substantial energy at one or more preferred pump wavelengths which are 10 nm longer than the zero dispersion wavelength or more, The invention also relates to a supercontinuum pump source comprising a nonlinear fiber having a core comprising a fluoride glass and having a core diameter smaller than 7 μm, where the fiber has a numerical aperture of more than 0.26.