Patent ID: 7826499

Claim:
A supercontinuum source comprising a source of light pulses having a predetermined wavelength; a first section of continuum-generating optical fiber disposed to receive the light pulses generated by the source of light pulses, the first section of continuum-generating optical fiber having an anomalous dispersion characteristic at the predetermined wavelength and configured to generate initial spectral broadening of the light pulses into an initial continuum defined as including a short wavelength edge; and a second section of continuum-generating optical fiber coupled to the first section of continuum-generating optical fiber, the second section of continuum-generating optical having an anomalous dispersion characteristic at a wavelength substantially near the short wavelength edge of the initial continuum generated by the first section of continuum-generating optical fiber, utilizing the short wavelength edge of the initial continuum as a pump source to generate spectral broadening of the initial continuum by extending the continuum into the visible portion of the spectrum, forming an extended continuum output of a bandwidth greater than the initial continuum.