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

Abstract

A method of generating supercontinuum optical radiation, the method comprising: (a) providing an optical waveguide (), said optical waveguide exhibiting a dispersion characteristic of guided optical radiation, said dispersion characteristic comprising: (i) a first dispersion parameter (β) at a first wavelength (λ), (ii) a second dispersion parameter (β) at a second shorter wavelengths (λ), 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 () wavelength, (λ) at a first power (P) and applying laser radiation of said second () shorter wavelength (λ) at a second power (P) 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.