Patent ID: 7034988

Claim:
A wavelength conversion device which converts an excitation light pulse with central wavelength λ S into light pulses with central wavelength λ 1 , λ 2 , λ 3 , . . . , λ n (where n is a natural number), comprising: an SC (supercontinuum) light generation portion, onto which the excitation light pulse of central wavelength λ S is incident, and which generates SC light having a spectral shape distributed over the range from wavelength λ L to wavelength λ H (where λ L <λ H ); and, an optical wavelength filter which filters the SC light, and the transmission central wavelengths of which are λ 1 , λ 2 , λ 3 , . . . , λ n (where n is a natural number); and wherein the following conditions (1) and (2-1), (2-2), . . . , (2-n) between the wavelength λ L , the wavelength λ H , the wavelength λ S , and the wavelengths λ 1 , λ 2 , λ 3 , . . . , λ n (where n is a natural number) are satisfied λ L <λ S <λ H (1) λ L <λ 1 <λ H (2-1) • • • λ L <λ n <λ H (2-n).