Compact white-light continuum source ranging from 1.1 μm to 2.5 μm for optical sensing and monitoring

摘要

We have successfully demonstrated white-light continuum (WLC) generation in the near-infrared (NIR) region from 1.1 μm to 2.5 μm using specially designed highly nonlinear optical fibers. A passively mode-locked diode-pumped Er:Yb:glass laser with a semiconductor saturable-absorber mirror (SESAM) successfully generates femtosecond pulses with about 90 mW average output power, which is sufficient to produce the WLC with over 40 mW power without any additional optical amplification. This WLC source is expected to be suitable for many applications, such as laser radar systems and optical gas sensing.