Supercontinuum source is a new form of light that has a combination of a lot of features such as high power output and tight focusing of the source of light. The common feature of the monochromatic is that they have got one laser meaning that they can produce only one wavelength at a time. Another feature that makes them stand out is that they are brighter as compared to the other sources of light. There is only a small amount of light that is focused on a certain spectral window making it produce tight light.
What are the Common Applications of Supercontinuum?
Used in Device Testing
The light source is used in measuring the optical properties of devices containing a band of about 1310nm. They are used to determine the attenuation of the wave guide, fiber, testing the amplifiers, and determining the characterization of the waveguides as part of the spectrum. When you use the supercontinuum to carry out these measurements, the appropriate brightness that is needed for attenuation will be made available.
Interferometry
It is used to determine interferometry since it is a broadband source of light that can determine the accurate position of the flaws in the waveguides, the displacements and the chromatic dispersion in the fibers. Given that the spatial revolution can easily be achieved, the interferometry will increase as the bandwidth if the source increases. This sources of light offer a lot of advantages over modes of light when used in the above application.
Tomography
This is powerful broadband that can be used to achieve a high resolution and scan speed in different directions.
Spectroscopy
This refers to the acquisition of data on samples used in biology, medicine, chemistry, physics and other aspects of environmental monitoring. Since it has a high spatial coherence, it can be easily focused on a small beam of light to allow for accurate measurements.
Advantages of Supercontinuum Source of Light
Nature of the Spectrum
One of the key advantages of usingsuper-continuum as a source of light is that it produces a flat and smooth spectrum. The density of the spectrum usually varies by less than 6db and it has a bandwidth that does not usually exceed 1000nm. Due to the careful reduction of the content of the water in the fiber, it has made it easy to eliminate a single dip in the spectral around the peak.
Stability
In most of the applications, stability remains a key factor. The stability, in this case, refers to the timescales as well as from one pulse to another pulse. Supercontinuum has long stability as compared to the other sources of light. Given that the stability of the laser, fiber properties, and the launch optics make a great contribution to any changes in the output of power, the long term stability that can be achieved will greatly depend on the way in which the source is engineered.
Pulse Stability
The different variations that are taking place in the power of the pump are due to the switching process taking place in the supercontinuum. Since it is at its multistage and there are many linear processes taking place, the effect will become more popular when the distance in wavelength increases exponentially. The fluctuations taking place are not usually correlated from one pulse to the other and they can easily cause detector noise with a number of spectral components that are found in the frequency of the laser.
How is Supercontinuum Generated?
The generation of supercontinuum involves the conversion of one wavelength. This refers to the output of a 1064nm laser into a broad spectrum through the combination of a number of non-linear effects in the optical medium. What appears to be simple in practice is often hidden in the intrinsic physical picture of the entire process.
The pulses are usually long and they are considered to be a continuous wave. Due to this, the continuous process is usually phase-matched and there are a number of side bands that are generated at equal intervals from the pump.
The phase match and the energy consumption will also determine the length of the wavelength. It will also determine the exact place where the conversion of the nonlinear will begin and this will determine the chromatic dispersion made by the fiber.
Due to its ability to achieve spectral dependence and chromatic dispersion, there are a number of advantages that are associated with this technology. It offers the possibility to design the single fibers with a zero wavelength that is shorter than the wavelength of the pump.
It is not possible to achieve this in the case of silica fibers. Since the PCF conversion can become anomalous, the phase based broad bands are broad and usually very close to the pump.
In the end,
Supercontinuum source as a source of light has many benefits over other sources of light. Due to its advantages, it is utilized in testing devices in industries.