Method of generating supercontinuum optical radiation, supercontinuum optical radiation source, and use thereof

US8000574B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• NKT PHOTONICS A/S · DK

Inventors

• Scott Buchter · Espoo, FI
• Hanne Elisabeth Ludvigsen · Helsinki, FI
• Matti Kaivola · Helsinki, FI

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 24, 2005
• Grant date: Aug 16, 2011
• Expiry date: Jun 25, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02F1/3528
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method of generating supercontinuum optical radiation, the method comprising: (a) providing an optical waveguide (22), said optical waveguide exhibiting a dispersion characteristic of guided optical radiation, said dispersion characteristic comprising: (i) a first dispersion parameter (β21) at a first wavelength (λ1), (ii) a second dispersion parameter (β22) at a second shorter wavelengths (λ2), and (iii) a zero-dispersion parameter at a wavelength in between said first and said second shorter wavelengths; said optical waveguide further comprising at least one entrance for receiving optical radiation, and at least one exit for emitting guided optical radiation; (b) applying at least two laser radiation of said first (25) wavelength, (λ1) at a first power (P1) and applying laser radiation of said second (26) shorter wavelength (λ2) at a second power (P2) into said optical waveguide, said laser radiations at least partially overlapping between said at least one entrance and said at least one exit of said optical waveguide; and (c) phase-matching said applied laser radiations by adjusting said first and second powers; a supercontinuum optical radiation source; and use thereof.