light source

Abstract

1. A light source comprising: a pulse generator for providing an initial sequence of optical pulses, the initial sequence comprising an initial number of optical pulses within a predetermined period of time; and first and second optical arms for respectively propagating first and second sequences of optical pulses derived from the initial sequence of optical pulses, the first optical arm including a first manipulator configured to generate the first sequence from the initial sequence, the first sequence having a first number of optical pulses within a predetermined period of time, the first number being greater than the initial number, and the second sequence having a second number of optical pulses within the predetermined period of time, the second number being less than or equal to the initial number; the light source further comprising: a nonlinear optical element arranged to receive the first sequence or the second sequence; and an optical switch configured to switch between either the first sequence or the second sequence for reception by the nonlinear optical element.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to light sources, such as light sources with broadband outputs and / or light sources that can operate in different modes. [Background technology]

[0002] A broadband light source generally refers to a light source that emits light with a broad wavelength bandwidth, e.g., 50 nm or greater. Broadband light sources can include, for example, incandescent or fluorescent lamps, typically providing a broad spectrum ranging from 400 to 1700 nm. However, the intensity of such sources is limited by the quality of the filament used or the efficiency of gas excitation. Furthermore, because the light is not spatially coherent, coupling the light into a fiber can be difficult, resulting in a low-power, low-brightness light source of mediocre quality. One or more of the aforementioned limitations may not be optimal for many applications.

[0003] Supercontinuum generation can often provide improvements beyond one or more of the above limitations. Supercontinuum generation involves the formation of a broad, typically continuous, spectrum by the propagation of high-power light, typically a pulse, through a nonlinear optical element such as a nonlinear fiber. The term supercontinuum does not cover a specific phenomenon; rather, it may include at least some of a number of nonlinear effects, such as self-phase modulation, Raman scattering, phase matching, and soliton generation, that result in significant broadening of the optical pulse. The spectrum achieved by supercontinuum generation in a nonlinear optical fiber typically covers a broader spectrum, e.g., in some instances, a spectrum having wavelengths in the range of 400 to 2400 nm relative to incandescent or fluorescent lamps, and can provide one or more of higher intensity, single-mode beam characteristics, excellent pointing stability, and laser brightness.

[0004] Broadband light sources have applications in fields such as spectroscopy, optical coherence tomography (OCT), metrology, scientific measurement, bioimaging, and semiconductor inspection. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a light source that can be operated in different modes of operation. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a light source that avoids or at least reduces light-induced degradation of the nonlinear fiber used to generate the broadband output. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] This object is achieved by a light source according to the embodiments described below. This object can be achieved by a light source as set forth in the appended claim 1, with particular preferred embodiments being disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0007] In some embodiments, the light source comprises: a pulse generator for providing an initial sequence of light pulses, the initial sequence of light pulses comprising an initial number of light pulses within a predetermined time period; and first and second optical arms for respectively propagating first and second sequences of light pulses derived from the initial sequence of light pulses, the first optical arm comprising a first manipulator configured to generate the first sequence of light pulses from the initial sequence of light pulses, the first sequence of light pulses comprising a first number of light pulses within the predetermined time period, the first number being greater than the initial number; and the second sequence of light pulses comprising a second number of light pulses within the predetermined time period, the second number being less than or equal to the initial number; and the light source further comprises a nonlinear optical element. The light source is configured such that the nonlinear optical element receives the first sequence of light pulses or the second sequence of light pulses. The nonlinear optical element can spectrally broaden the received pulses.

[0008] The nonlinear optical element may be configured to, among other things, broaden the spectrum of a sequence of optical pulses passing through it, thereby enabling the nonlinear optical element to generate a broadband or supercontinuum spectrum from the sequence of pulses.

[0009] The light source may include a broadband light source, such as a supercontinuum light source. The light source may include an optical switch arranged to switch either the first sequence of light pulses or the second sequence of light pulses for receipt by the nonlinear optical element, The switch may facilitate operation of the light source in a high power mode or a low power mode.

[0010] A high power mode can be interpreted as a mode in which the supercontinuum light source provides a total power of more than 5 W (e.g., more than 6 W, 10 W, or 20 W), measured across the entire supercontinuum spectrum extending, for example, from 350 nm to 850 nm (and possibly into the infrared wavelength region).

[0011] Additionally, in at least some embodiments, the generated supercontinuum light may include a total power of at least 0.5 W, 1 W, 2 W, 5 W, or 10 W in the visible wavelength range of approximately 350-850 nm.

[0012] In at least some embodiments, the power modes (especially the high power modes) can provide broadband or supercontinuum light having a high power spectral density, e.g., 1 mW / nm, or 2 mW / nm, or 5 mW / nm, or 10 mW / nm, or 20 mW / nm, measured over a range of at least 10 nm within the "visible range" (especially between 350 nm and 850 nm).

[0013] In at least some embodiments, the high power mode of the supercontinuum light source can provide a power spectral density of greater than 10 mW / nm (e.g., a power spectral density of greater than 20 mW / nm, e.g., a power spectral density of greater than 25 mW / nm, e.g., a power spectral density of greater than 50 mW / nm) measured over a range of at least 10 nm within a portion of the supercontinuum spectrum extending from at least 1200 nm to at least 1300 nm.

[0014] At least one amplifier may be arranged upstream of the nonlinear optical element to amplify the pulses of the first or second sequence before they are delivered to the nonlinear optical element, in particular to provide the nonlinear optical element with a desired power.

[0015] The amplifier can be configured to amplify either the first or second sequence of pulses depending on the switch setting, such that the peak power of the pulses in each sequence of pulses is below a predetermined maximum level, thereby mitigating material degradation and avoiding damage to the nonlinear optical elements, as described below.

[0016] The light source can include a controller in communication with the optical switch and the amplifier, the controller being configured to control the amplification of the pulses in the first or second sequence depending on the setting of the optical switch. Preferably, a stronger amplification of the pulses in the first sequence of pulses is provided to compensate for a distribution of optical power in the initial pulses into several pulses in the first sequence of optical pulses, i.e., the pulses of the first sequence are more amplified than the pulses of the second sequence.

[0017] Preferably, the controller provides amplification of the optical pulses in the first or second sequences of pulses such that the peak power of the pulses in each sequence of pulses remains below a predetermined maximum level.

[0018] In some embodiments, the first sequence of light pulses and the second sequence of light pulses may be generated such that the peak power of the pulses in both sequences is (at least substantially) the same.

[0019] In some embodiments, the energy or peak power of the selected pulse can be controlled. For example, the peak power or energy of the pulse supplied to the nonlinear optical element can be controlled to a level below a predetermined threshold level, i.e., below a predetermined maximum level. The maximum level may be selected so that damage or degradation of the nonlinear optical element does not occur, is reduced, or is reduced to an acceptable level. Degradation of nonlinear optical elements is typically a continuous process. High peak powers or pulse energies transmitted through the nonlinear optical element cause higher degradation than pulses with low peak powers. The degradation rate may be nonlinear, and therefore high peak powers may cause severe damage or degradation to the nonlinear optical element. In other words, the predetermined maximum level is set so that, for peak powers and energies below this level, degradation of the nonlinear optical element is kept sufficiently low to ensure a long lifetime of the nonlinear optical element and, therefore, the light source. In this way, having more pulses in the first sequence of optical pulses per predetermined period with peak powers below a predetermined maximum level helps to increase the lifetime of the nonlinear optical element and avoid damage to the nonlinear optical element, while allowing for a high power output and / or a high spectral energy density to be obtained within a predetermined period.

[0020] The peak power or energy of a selected pulse can be controlled to be "clamped" so as not to exceed a predetermined maximum level. That is, the peak power or pulse energy can vary, for example, as the number of pulses per unit time changes (to some extent, such variations are natural when pulses are amplified; without controlled amplification, fewer amplified pulses per unit time may mean more energy per amplified pulse, and therefore more peak power), but is not allowed to vary beyond a predetermined maximum level. Also, the peak power or energy of a pulse can be controlled to remain substantially the same as the number of pulses per unit time changes. For example, because supercontinuum generation is peak power sensitive, it may be advantageous to keep the peak power the same and clamp it below a predetermined maximum level selected to reduce damage to nonlinear optical elements, which would otherwise become undesirably large.

[0021] As previously mentioned, in some embodiments, the peak power or energy of the pulses can be controlled to remain substantially the same and / or not exceed a predetermined maximum level. Control is desirable when the number of pulses per unit time can vary, as in the present invention. For example, the present invention may include one or more amplifiers. The amplifiers are typically optically pumped, such as by laser diodes, to provide energy to transfer to the optical signal to amplify the signal. Very often, reducing the number of pulses amplified per unit time tends to increase the energy or peak power per pulse, as the amount of energy in the optical pump power delivered over the time interval is distributed among fewer amplified pulses.

[0022] Thus, one way to control the optical energy or peak power of the pulses, whether to compensate for variations due to the amplifier itself or in response to other considerations, is to control the amplification process, such as by controlling the pump laser or lasers that pump the amplifier. For example, the optical pump power can be reduced when fewer pulses are amplified to compensate for the typical increase in amplified pulse energy or peak power.

[0023] In some embodiments, a variable optical attenuator or modulator, such as an AOM (acousto-optic modulator) or an EOM (electro-optic modulator), may be used to control the peak power or energy of the pulses.

[0024] Control of the AOM or EOM can be performed in conjunction with control of amplification. The light source can be configured to sample the pulses, for example, using a detector. Pulses delivered to the nonlinear optical element can be sampled before their delivery, and control can be responsive to the sampled pulse energy, the peak power of the pulses, or a burst of pulses (e.g., when the detector is not responsive to individual pulses). It is also possible to control the peak power or energy of the pulses in response to a lookup table, a formula or algorithm, or selected operation of the light source. Such control can be performed in conjunction with or independently of the aforementioned feedback control using a detector. For example, if a pulse is directed to an optical arm that increases the number of pulses or repetition rate, the pulse energy or peak power of the pulses can vary, at least in part, in a predictable manner. If the pulse manipulator includes a pulse splitter, for example, each split pulse has less energy or peak power than the pulse from which it was split. Thus, the pulse energy of the peak power of the pulse can be controlled at least in part in response to the optical arm selected to propagate the pulse. When a pulse is split, the amplification can be adjusted, for example, by increasing it. In some embodiments, the peak or energy of the pulse can be controlled in response to a switch setting, for example, by adjusting the gain of a downstream optical amplifier to increase the pulse energy or peak power when the pulse is switched to be split in the manipulator. Similarly, the pulse can be controlled in response to the operation of a manipulator or modulator. Depending on the application, any pulse of the light source can be sampled and / or controlled, e.g., a pulse from an emission source, an initial sequence of pulses, a first or second sequence of pulses, etc. The light source may include a controller (not shown) in suitable communication with one or more of the aforementioned elements or components to provide the desired control.

[0025] In one embodiment, the optical switch has an input and two outputs and is arranged to selectively provide an initial sequence of light pulses to either the first optical arm or the second optical arm. The first sequence of optical pulses provides more pulses per given period to the nonlinear optical element than the second sequence of optical pulses, and applying differential amplification of the pulses in the first and second sequences to provide a stronger amplification to the pulses in the first sequence causes the nonlinear optical element to produce a broadband spectrum having higher power than the broadband spectrum produced from the second sequence of optical pulses when the first sequence of optical pulses is provided to the nonlinear optical element.

[0026] On the time scale of the predetermined period, the accumulated optical signal delivered by the light source (as a sequence of supercontinuum generated by the first sequence of pulses) appears as a single high-power supercontinuum. For example, a detector with an integration time equal to or exceeding the predetermined period will record this optical signal as a single high-power supercontinuum.

[0027] This allows the light source to operate in a high-power mode in which the nonlinear optical element receives pulses from the first optical arm, and a low-power mode in which the nonlinear optical element receives pulses from the second optical arm, thus allowing a user to select between these two operating modes while still being able to use the light source to perform, for example, spectroscopic measurements.

[0028] Thus, in this embodiment, it is possible to switch between different operating modes of the light source, in particular to switch to a high power operating mode by setting the switch to provide an initial sequence of light pulses to the first optical arm, and to switch to a low power operating mode by setting the switch to provide an initial sequence of light pulses to the second optical arm.

[0029] In one embodiment, the optical switch has two inputs and one output and is configured to accept a first sequence of optical pulses and a second sequence of optical pulses and selectively provide either the first sequence of optical pulses or the second sequence of optical pulses to the nonlinear optical element. Thus, depending on the setting of the switch, the nonlinear optical element is positioned to accept either the first sequence of optical pulses or the second sequence of optical pulses, and the light source can be selected to operate in a high power mode or a low power mode.

[0030] Thus, a switch can be positioned after the first and second optical arms and receive the outputs from both arms. Optical pulses received from the optical arms that are not provided to the nonlinear optical element can be directed to, for example, an optical dump.

[0031] In one embodiment, the pulse generator may provide an initial sequence of optical pulses to a splitter, which may include an optical splitter that may be configured to provide the initial sequence of optical pulses to a first and second optical arm. The intensity of the optical pulses in both arms may be reduced by 50%, making the optical splitter a 50 / 50 splitter. However, other splitting configurations are possible.

[0032] The splitter may be used in conjunction with an optical switch located after the first and second optical arms described above. In one embodiment, the switch includes a switch having an input and an output, and one of the optical arms includes such a switch in-line. If one of the optical arms includes a component that can also function as a switch, such as when a second optical arm includes a second manipulator that can have a switching function, the other arm, i.e., the first arm, can include a switch in-line. The switching functions of the switch and the second manipulator can operate in an opposite manner, i.e., when one is "off" the other is "on," and vice versa.

[0033] In one embodiment, each optical arm has its own switch in line (i.e., in series with the optical path of the arm), each switch having an input and an output, and these switches can be operated in opposite ways, such that when one is "off" the other is "on", and vice versa.

[0034] A splitter such as that described above may be used when one or more in-line switches are used to provide the initial sequence of light pulses to the first and second optical arms. Thus, switches arranged to switch either the first sequence of optical pulses or the second sequence of optical pulses for receipt by the nonlinear optical element include, for example, two-port in-line switches that switch only one of the optical arms, and three-port switches that can select between the optical arms.

[0035] Compared to generating a spectrum from an initial optical pulse, the power of the spectrum generated from the first sequence of optical pulses can be higher because the first sequence of optical pulses contains more pulses per period and amplification is applied to compensate for the division of the initial optical pulse into the first sequence of pulses. By distributing the optical power across more pulses (the first sequence of pulses) to generate a broadband spectrum, a high-power broadband spectrum can be generated without substantially increasing the degradation of the nonlinear optical element.

[0036] Another way to increase the power of the generated spectrum is to increase the peak power of the pulses in the initial sequence of pulses. However, high peak power of pulses passing through the nonlinear optical element can accelerate degradation of the nonlinear optical element or even damage it. Therefore, by using the first optical arm and the first manipulator, broadband light can be generated at higher power while reducing the risk of damaging the nonlinear optical element.

[0037] In some applications, it is desirable to be able to select between different operating modes of the light source, for example, a high power mode and a low power mode of operation. In fluorescence spectroscopy applications, for example, bleaching experiments require high-intensity spectra, while lifetime measurements require low-intensity spectra, and it is desirable to be able to switch between these two modes of operation.

[0038] The first manipulator may be configured to generate, from an initial sequence of light pulses having an initial repetition rate, a first sequence of light pulses having a repetition rate higher than the initial repetition rate, for example, to double the repetition rate.

[0039] In some embodiments, the first manipulator includes a pulse splitter configured to split each pulse of the initial sequence of light pulses into a given number of pulses, thereby generating a given number of subsequences of light pulses, the given number of subsequences of light pulses including the first subsequence of light pulses. The pulse splitter may be configured to delay each of the remaining subsequences of light pulses by a predetermined period relative to the first subsequence of light pulses. The pulse combiner may be further configured to combine the first subsequence of light pulses with the further delayed subsequence of light pulses, thereby generating the first sequence of light pulses.

[0040] The first sequence of light pulses may, for example, consist of a sequence of bursts, each burst comprising a number of pulses. The first manipulator can therefore increase the repetition rate of the initial sequence of light pulses or generate bursts of pulses.

[0041] The pulse burst may have an envelope. The pulse burst may be characterized by a pulse burst repetition rate, a power cycle, an inter-pulse time interval, and the repetition rate of individual pulses within the pulse burst. In some embodiments, the time interval between pulses may be less than 200 picoseconds (e.g., less than 100 picoseconds, e.g., 10 picoseconds). The time interval between pulses may be greater than 1.5 times the width of the pulses within the burst, e.g., 5 times the width of the pulses within the burst, e.g., 10 times the width of the pulses within the burst, e.g., 20-25 times the width of the pulses within the burst.

[0042] The splitter of the first manipulator may include optical fibers having different lengths for delaying the subsequences of optical pulses, each of which may travel along a different optical fiber, such that the pulses in the different subsequences are delayed relative to one another due to their different lengths.

[0043] In one embodiment, the second optical arm includes at least one optical fiber for transmitting a second sequence of optical pulses corresponding to the first sequence of optical pulses, and preferably does not include a manipulator. Thus, the second optical arm can provide a fiber link for optical communication between the pulse generator and the nonlinear optical element, thereby providing an initial sequence of optical pulses, referred to as the second sequence of optical pulses, to the nonlinear optical element, particularly for broadband or supercontinuum generation. Thus, the second optical arm bypasses the first optical arm, and no manipulator is disposed within the second optical arm.

[0044] However, in one embodiment, the light source may include a second manipulator, and the second optical arm may include a second manipulator. The second manipulator may be configured to generate the second sequence of light pulses such that the second sequence of light pulses includes the same or fewer pulses per predetermined period than the first sequence of light pulses. The second manipulator may include or consist of a pulse picker. The pulse picker can generate, from an initial sequence of optical pulses having an initial repetition rate, a second sequence of optical pulses having a repetition rate equal to or lower than the initial repetition rate. The pulse picker is a device that "picks" or selects some pulses in a pulse sequence, thereby reducing the repetition rate of the initial sequence of pulses (or leaving it unchanged if all pulses are selected). An acousto-optic modulator or an electro-optic modulator may be used as the pulse picker.

[0045] The second manipulator, if it comprises, for example, an acousto-optical modulator or an electro-optical modulator, can substantially block pulses from the second optical arm from being received by the nonlinear optical element, thus functioning as an in-line switch within the second optical arm.

[0046] In some embodiments, the pulse generator includes at least one of a pulsed laser, a laser and amplifier, or a laser and fiber amplifier. In some embodiments, the pulse generator can have a fixed repetition rate, while in other embodiments, the pulse generator can have a variable repetition rate, but the initial number of pulses having a predetermined duration can be varied.

[0047] The nonlinear optical element may be a nonlinear optical fiber, in particular a microstructured optical fiber. A microstructured fiber contains an array of longitudinally extending features, one or more of which have a refractive index different from that of the material surrounding the feature. The array of features functions to guide light propagated by the fiber. A microstructured optical fiber includes a core region and a cladding region. The cladding region typically contains an array of features, which typically include voids. Different types of microstructured fibers can operate by different physical mechanisms. For example, in some microstructured fibers, the array of longitudinally extending features provides a photonic bandgap such that light cannot exist within the cladding and is therefore confined to the core. In other microstructured fibers, the array of longitudinally extending features provides an indexing mechanism to confine light to the core, similar to total internal reflection in conventional fibers. Microstructured fibers also rely on other mechanisms. Microstructured fibers can have hollow or solid cores. For example, photonic bandgap-type microstructured fibers often have hollow cores.

[0048] The microstructured optical fiber may be, for example, a photonic bandgap fiber. The predetermined period of time may be equal to n*T, where n is a natural number and T is the inverse of the pulse repetition rate of the pulses in the initial sequence of light pulses.

[0049] The predetermined period may be equal to T / n. In particular, in embodiments in which the first sequence of pulses includes a burst of pulses, all pulses in the burst may be contained within a predetermined period that is a fraction of T. n may be a natural number, e.g., n=1, 2, 3, . . .

[0050] A multi-port optical component (also referred to as "MOC"), as the term is used herein, means an optical component that has at least one input and at least two outputs, or at least one output and at least two inputs. Switches, couplers, and splitters may be examples of multi-port optical components.

[0051] In some embodiments, the light source includes at least a first MOC in optical communication with the optical arm to deliver positioned optical pulses to the optical arm or receive optical pulses from the optical arm. The light source can include a second MOC, the first MOC in optical communication with the pulse generator and the optical arm to deliver optical pulses to the arm, and the second MOC in optical communication with the optical arm and the nonlinear optical element to receive pulses from the optical arm for delivery to the nonlinear optical element.

[0052] In some embodiments, the light source generates broadband or supercontinuum light. All of the features disclosed in this application can also be used in conjunction with the light sources described above. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for irradiating a material sample, in particular for material processing, which apparatus comprises a light source according to the present invention and a holder for the material sample, the holder being configured to hold the material, and in use of the light source the material sample is irradiated with broadband or supercontinuum light emitted from a nonlinear optical element of the light source.

[0053] The invention also relates to a system for the optical analysis of an object and / or for the optical measurement of at least one parameter of an object. In some embodiments, a system for optical analysis and / or measurement includes: a light source according to one embodiment, wherein the light source is arranged to illuminate the object; a detector for detecting light received from the illuminated object; an analyzer configured to analyze the detected light and derive therefrom at least one parameter of the object.

[0054] Broadband light sources, such as supercontinuum sources, which provide a spectrally broad continuous light source, are useful in many systems for optical analysis and measurement, such as systems configured for optical coherence tomography (OCT), white light interferometry, spectroscopy, optical frequency metrology, fluorescence microscopy, fluorescence lifetime spectroscopy (FLIM), hyperspectral imaging, flow cytometry, coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy, and two-photon fluorescence microscopy.

[0055] In some embodiments, the system is a reflectance mode measurement system arranged to measure light reflected from the object to be analyzed, such as a white light interferometry based system such as optical coherence tomography (OCT). Advantageously, the system is based on time domain, frequency domain or swept source OCT.

[0056] For example, in applications where the light probes subsurface regions of the object being analyzed, such as OCT analysis of a patient's skin or eye, higher power allows deeper portions of the object to be probed in the same duration or allows for faster analysis.

[0057] In one embodiment, the system for optical analysis is configured for in vivo, ex vivo and / or in vitro measurements of human or animal body parts. The system can be applied to different ophthalmic analyses and treatments, such as diagnosing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, or glaucoma. In some embodiments, the system is used in diagnosis related to treatment for refractive eye correction, such as laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for the correction of refractive eye conditions. In some embodiments, the system is used to measure the boundary of Bowman's layer inside the human eye.

[0058] In some embodiments, the system is used for product characterization and / or sorting and / or quality inspection. The higher power of the broadband light source allows for a larger inspection volume defined from a larger inspection area and / or depth and / or faster optical analysis of the product.

[0059] In one embodiment, the measurement system is used for analysis and quality control of semiconductor materials, such as nitride-containing materials. One advantage of the present light source and systems incorporating the disclosed light source is that it can provide two modes of operation (high power mode and low power mode) with only a single light source. Prior art light sources can only provide a high power mode or a low power mode, or if the light source operates by simply increasing the peak power of the pulses injected into the nonlinear optical element, this results in a significantly reduced lifetime. The present invention can provide a long-life, general-purpose light source.

[0060] The present invention also relates to a method for optically measuring at least one parameter of an object to be measured, in some embodiments the method comprises: Providing a measurement system according to one embodiment; illuminating the object to be analyzed with at least a portion of a broadband spectrum generated by a light source of the measurement system; detecting light from the object with a detector; analyzing the detected light to derive at least one parameter of the object; Includes.

[0061] In some embodiments, the illuminating and detecting steps are performed simultaneously, such as when the system is configured for OCT measurements or absorption spectroscopy, where the optical response of the object to the received light is instantaneous.

[0062] In some embodiments, the detecting step is performed after the illuminating step, for example, if the system is configured for fluorescence measurements and the fluorescent response of the object to the received light is slightly delayed.

[0063] In some embodiments, the analytical method includes a bleaching step prior to the illumination step, and the light source operates in a high-power mode during the bleaching step and in a low-power mode during the illumination step, which can advantageously provide, for example, initial, rapid bleaching of fluorophore markers attached to specific molecules in the biological sample.

[0064] The present invention also relates to a spectroscopic system and / or apparatus for performing spectroscopy on a sample, comprising a light source according to the present invention for illuminating the sample with broadband or supercontinuum light and at least one detector for detecting light from the sample. The integration time of the detector preferably exceeds the duration of the pulse and / or burst of pulses. Thus, the detector does not "see" the structure of the pulse or burst. However, the burst is detectable as a whole. This is particularly advantageous for detecting low-power signals. The integration time preferably does not include more than one burst. In some embodiments, the integration time can include multiple bursts, i.e., it can be longer than the time between bursts. The integration time may be longer than the duration of the pulse, but shorter than the duration of the burst of pulses.

[0065] Spectroscopic systems can be used, for example, to analyze dense or thick materials. In some embodiments, the foregoing embodiments do not include a nonlinear optical element, and the pulse or burst of pulses is output without being spectrally broadened by a nonlinear optical element.

[0066] The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0067] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram of a light source operable in low and high power modes. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram of the first manipulator of the device of FIG. 1; [Figure 3] 2 is another view of the light source of FIG. 1, which is operable in a low power mode and a high power mode; [Figure 4] 3 shows a schematic representation of a sequence of light pulses that can be generated by a particular implementation of a light source according to the invention; [Figure 5] 3 shows a schematic representation of a sequence of light pulses that can be generated by a particular implementation of a light source according to the invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0068] FIG. 1 shows a broadband light source 1 capable of operating in two different power modes. A pulse generator 2, such as a pulsed laser, a laser and amplifier, or a laser and fiber amplifier, generates an initial sequence 3 of pulses with pulse widths on the order of femtoseconds, picoseconds, or nanoseconds. The initial sequence 3 of optical pulses includes an initial number of optical pulses within a predetermined period n T, where T, which may be the pulse period if the pulses are regular, is inversely proportional to the pulse repetition rate of the initial sequence of optical pulses. The multiplier n can be a natural number such as 1, 2, or 3.

[0069] Following the pulse generator 2, in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, a multi-port optical component (MOC) 4 including an optical switch allows the user to send the initial sequence of optical pulses 3 through either the first optical arm 5 or the second optical arm 6 by setting the switch appropriately.

[0070] The first optical arm 5 includes a first manipulator 7, which may include, for example, a delay line device. This device is described in more detail with respect to FIG. 2. This device can increase the repetition rate of the initial sequence of optical pulses 3 by increasing the number of pulses within a predetermined period n·T relative to the initial number of pulses. As shown in FIG. 2 and described in more detail below, this device can also generate the first sequence of optical pulses 9 to include additional pulses, which may occur in bursts.

[0071] The second optical arm 6 includes a second manipulator 8, which may for example include or consist of a pulse picker. A pulse picker is a device that "picks" or selects some pulses in a sequence of pulses, thereby reducing (or leaving unchanged, if all pulses are selected) the repetition rate of the initial sequence of pulses 3. The pulse picker is a standard optical device; an acousto-optic or electro-optic modulator may be used for this purpose. The second manipulator 8 is capable of generating a second sequence of optical pulses, as indicated schematically by reference numeral 10.

[0072] MOC 11, located optically "downstream" from the "upstream" MOC 4, includes a coupler in the embodiment shown in Figure 1. MOC / coupler 11 is in optical communication with both the output of first optical arm 5 and the output of second optical arm 6.

[0073] At least one optional amplifier 12 follows the combiner 11 to amplify the signal to a desired power level. The signal from amplifier 12 is then fed to a nonlinear optical element 13, which broadens the optical pulse to form an output pulse having a broadband spectrum. The at least one amplifier 12 may be two amplifiers.

[0074] The nonlinear optical element 13 is, for example, a nonlinear optical fiber, in particular a nonlinear microstructured optical fiber. The output power of the generated supercontinuum can depend on the pulse repetition rate, or more generally, on the number of pulses per period provided to the nonlinear optical element 13. The user selects the high power mode of the broadband light source 1 by selecting the first optical arm 5, while the user selects the low power mode of the broadband light source 1 by selecting the second optical arm 6.

[0075] The output power of the supercontinuum depends on the pulse repetition rate, particularly when the peak power of the pulses used for supercontinuum generation is substantially constant or below a certain level. The peak power or energy of the selected pulses can be controlled as described above. For example, in some embodiments, the pump power used to generate the initial sequence of optical pulses 3 can be varied to keep the peak power of the pulses constant. Thus, the first sequence of optical pulses 9 and the second sequence of optical pulses 10 may have different numbers of optical pulses within a predetermined period, but the peak power of the pulses may be the same. This can be achieved by adjusting the pump power used to generate the initial sequence of optical pulses depending on the setting of an optical switch. Alternatively, or in addition, the gain of the amplifier can be controlled, for example, by controlling the optical pumping of the amplifier so that the peak power of the pulses is controlled as desired.

[0076] As previously mentioned, in some embodiments, the peak power or energy of the pulses can be controlled to remain substantially the same and / or not exceed a selected threshold. Control is desirable when the number of pulses per unit time can vary, as in the present invention. For example, the present invention may include one or more amplifiers. The amplifiers are typically optically pumped, such as by laser diodes, to provide energy to transfer to the optical signal to amplify the signal. Very often, reducing the number of pulses amplified per unit time tends to increase the energy or peak power per pulse, as the amount of energy in the optical pump power delivered over the time interval is distributed among fewer amplified pulses.

[0077] Thus, one way to control the optical energy or peak power of the pulses, whether to compensate for variations due to the amplifier itself or in response to other considerations, is to control the amplification process, such as by controlling the pump laser or lasers that pump the amplifier. For example, to compensate for the typical increase in amplified pulse energy or peak power, the optical pump power can be reduced when fewer pulses are amplified.

[0078] In some embodiments, a variable optical attenuator or modulator, such as an AOM (acousto-optic modulator) or an EOM (electro-optic modulator), may be used to control the peak power or energy of the pulses.

[0079] Control of the AOM or EOM can be performed in conjunction with control of amplification. The light source can be configured to sample the pulses, for example, using a detector. Pulses delivered to the nonlinear optical element can be sampled before their delivery, and control can be responsive to the sampled pulse energy, the peak power of the pulses, or a burst of pulses (e.g., when the detector is not responsive to individual pulses). It is also possible to control the peak power or energy of the pulses in response to a lookup table, a formula or algorithm, or selected operation of the light source. Such control can be performed in conjunction with or independently of the aforementioned feedback control using a detector. For example, if a pulse is directed to an optical arm that increases the number of pulses or repetition rate, the pulse energy or peak power of the pulses can vary, at least in part, in a predictable manner. If the pulse manipulator includes a pulse splitter, for example, each split pulse has less energy or peak power than the pulse from which it was split. Thus, the pulse energy of the peak power of the pulse can be controlled at least in part in response to the optical arm selected to propagate the pulse. When a pulse is split, the amplification can be adjusted, for example, by increasing it. In some embodiments, when pulses are switched to be split by the manipulator, the pulse peak power or energy can be controlled in response to the setting of one or more switches, such as by adjusting the gain of a downstream optical amplifier to increase the pulse energy or peak power. Similarly, the pulses can be controlled in response to the operation of a manipulator or modulator. Depending on the application, any pulse of the light source can be sampled and / or controlled, e.g., a pulse from an emission source, an initial sequence of pulses, a first or second sequence of pulses, etc. The light source may include a controller (not shown) in suitable communication with one or more of the aforementioned elements or components to provide the desired control.

[0080] An example configuration of the first manipulator 7 is shown in Figure 2. An initial sequence 3 of optical pulses (only one pulse of this sequence is shown in Figure 2) enters the first manipulator 7 and is split into at least two subsequences of optical pulses by a pulse splitter 15. Because the pulse splitter of Figure 2 has one input and four outputs, four subsequences of optical pulses are shown in Figure 2. The ratio of input ports to output ports of the pulse splitter is typically 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 1:16, etc.

[0081] The device shown in Figure 2 employs four optical arms 17, 18, 19, and 20. The first arm 17 has no delay inserted. The second arm 18 has one delay line 14 inserted. The third arm 19 has two delay lines 14 inserted, and the fourth arm 20 has three delay lines inserted. A combiner 16 combines the signals originating from the different optical arms 17, 18, 19, and 20. The resulting signal may be a sequence 10 of pulse bursts.

[0082] By varying the number of arms of the first optical manipulator 7 and the delays of the optical arms 17-20, it is possible to increase the repetition rate of the initial sequence of optical pulses 3 or to generate bursts of pulses 10, as shown in Figure 2. When such a signal is amplified and injected into a nonlinear optical element 13, a broadband spectrum with a higher output power is obtained with respect to the output power generated by selecting the other port of the optical switch, i.e., the port leading to the second optical manipulator 8. Thus, when the port of the optical switch leading to the first optical manipulator 7 is selected, a high-power mode is selected.

[0083] As mentioned above, the four optical arms 17, 18, 19, 20 can be formed by optical fibers of the same length, with one delay line inserted in the second optical arm 18, two delay lines inserted in series in the third optical arm 19, and three delay lines inserted in series in the fourth optical arm 20. Alternatively, the four arms can be formed by four different optical fibers of different lengths.

[0084] In one embodiment of the present invention, the second manipulator is not present in Figure 1 and is replaced by, for example, a length of optical fiber that is not capable of "picking" pulses and therefore allows for the number of pulses in a given period to be varied. Thus, the second sequence of pulses may be essentially the first sequence of pulses in terms of the number of pulses per given period.

[0085] Figure 3 is used as a basis for discussing various embodiments and is identical to Figure 1 except that it schematically illustrates the alternative embodiment previously described with respect to the second manipulator 8 or second optical arm 6 including a selected length of optical fiber 24.

[0086] Considering the following embodiments, each can be implemented in alternative embodiments where the second optical arm includes both a second manipulator and where it does not. As mentioned above, the switch 4 and combiner 11 shown in FIG. 1 can each be more generally considered as an MOC.

[0087] In one embodiment, the upstream MOC 4 includes a switch and the downstream MOC 11 includes another switch. The upstream MOC switch 4 directs the initial sequence of pulses into either the first or second optical arm, and the downstream MOC switch 11 directs the pulses from the first or second optical arm to the nonlinear optical element. The switches are both operated to select the same optical arm.

[0088] In one embodiment, the upstream MOC 4 includes a splitter and the downstream MOC 11 includes a switch. In one embodiment, the upstream MOC 4 comprises a switch and the downstream MOC comprises a combiner 11. This embodiment has already been described in more detail above.

[0089] In one embodiment, the upstream MOC includes a splitter and the downstream MOC includes a combiner. In one variation of the above, the first optical arm 5 comprises an in-line optical switch (not shown) having one input port and one output port, and the second optical arm 6 comprises a second manipulator 8, which can also function as a switch. Referring to Figure 3, such an in-line switch can be located, for example, at either position 26A or position 26B.

[0090] In another variation of the above embodiment, both optical arms each include an in-line optical switch having an input port and an output port, and these switches can operate in opposite manners, i.e., when one is on the other is off and vice versa. The second manipulator 8 may or may not be present. The in-line switch in the second optical arm 6 can be arranged similarly to the first optical arm.

[0091] Figure 4(a) shows a portion of a pulse train generated by a pulse generator. The first optical manipulator (which has four optical arms in this example) is configured to generate a burst of four pulses from each pulse in the initial sequence of optical pulses within a predetermined period, as shown in Figure 4(b). The pulses in the burst can then be amplified using an amplifier positioned after the first optical manipulator to below a predetermined maximum level, e.g., below the damage threshold of the nonlinear optical element, as shown in Figure 4(c). The amplification can increase the total optical power provided to the nonlinear optical element. This allows for the generation of a high-power supercontinuum without using high peak powers that would rapidly degrade the nonlinear optical element.

[0092] Figure 5 shows another way to generate the train of pulses shown in Figure 4(c). That is, the initial sequence of optical pulses shown in Figure 5(a) can be amplified by an amplifier placed after the pulse generator and before the first manipulator, as shown in Figure 5(b). Such a sequence will have a peak power exceeding a predetermined maximum level, i.e., exceeding the damage threshold of the nonlinear optical element, but this is not the case after the manipulator, which increases the repetition rate of the initial sequence of optical pulses shown in Figure 5(c).

[0093] Unless expressly stated otherwise, or unless it is apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that such combination is not intended or operable, all features described above in conjunction with the detailed description of Figures 1-5 should be considered within the scope of the present invention, either independently or in any combination with one another, included in the additional embodiments described above.

[0094] The term "light" as used herein refers not only to visible light but also to light in the non-visible wavelength range, including, for example, light in the infrared (IR) or ultraviolet (UV) wavelength range. The broadband spectrum produced by a nonlinear optical element is typically a continuous spectrum, but may also be a non-continuous spectrum, for example, the spectrum may include closely spaced bands of wavelengths.

[0095] The broadband spectrum generated in the nonlinear fiber may be a supercontinuum spectrum. [Explanation of symbols]

[0096] 1:Light source 2: Pulse generator 3: Initial sequence of light pulses 4: Multiport optical components (e.g., the optical switch in Figure 1) 5: First optical arm 6: Second optical arm 7: First manipulator 8: Second manipulator 9: First sequence of light pulses 10: Second sequence of light pulses 11: Multiport optical component (e.g., the optical coupler in Figure 1) 12: Amplifier 13: Nonlinear optical elements 14: Delay line 15: Pulse splitter 16: Pulse synthesizer 17: Optical arm 18: Optical arm 19: Optical arm 20: Optical arm 24: Length of optical fiber 26A:Possible position for inserting an in-line switch 26B: Possible position for inserting an in-line switch

Claims

1. A light source configured to operate in different modes of operation, comprising: a pulse generator (2) for providing an initial sequence (3) of light pulses, said initial sequence (3) of light pulses comprising an initial number of light pulses within a predetermined time period; a first optical arm and a second optical arm for propagating, respectively, a first sequence and a second sequence of optical pulses derived from the initial sequence of optical pulses; A light source (1) comprising: the first optical arm (5) includes a first manipulator (7) configured to generate the first sequence of light pulses (9) from the initial sequence of light pulses (3), the first sequence of light pulses (9) having a first number of light pulses within the predetermined period, the first number being greater than the initial number; the second optical arm (6) includes a second manipulator (8) configured to generate the second sequence of light pulses (10) from the initial sequence of light pulses (3), the second sequence of light pulses (10) having a second number of light pulses within the predetermined period, the second number being less than the initial number; The light source is a nonlinear optical element (13) arranged to receive the first sequence of optical pulses (9) or the second sequence of optical pulses (10); an optical switch (4) configured to switch either the first sequence of optical pulses or the second sequence of optical pulses for receipt by the nonlinear optical element (13), wherein a high power mode is selected when a port of the optical switch (4) leading to a first manipulator (7) is selected; and The light source further comprises:

2. the first manipulator (7) is configured to generate, from the initial sequence (3) of light pulses having an initial repetition rate, the first sequence (9) of light pulses having a repetition rate higher than the initial repetition rate; The light source of claim 1 .

3. the first manipulator (7) is configured to generate a burst of pulses comprising at least two pulses from a single pulse of the initial sequence of light pulses (3), with a time delay between the at least two pulses; The light source of claim 1 .

4. The light source is at least one amplifier (12) arranged upstream of said nonlinear optical element; a controller in communication with the optical switch and the amplifier; Equipped with the controller is configured to control amplification of the pulses in response to a setting of the optical switch such that the first sequence of pulses is more amplified than the second sequence of pulses. The light source according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. the controller amplifying the optical pulses in the first sequence or the second sequence of pulses such that the peak power of the pulses in each sequence of pulses remains below a predetermined maximum level.

5. The light source of claim 4.

6. the at least one amplifier (12) is located downstream of the optical switch (4) and upstream of the nonlinear optical element (13), or the at least one amplifier (12) is arranged after the first manipulator (7), or the at least one amplifier (12) is arranged after the pulse generator and before the first manipulator (7); 6. A light source according to claim 4 or 5.

7. The second manipulator (8) includes or consists of a pulse picker, The light source of claim 1 .

8. the second optical arm includes at least one optical fiber for guiding the second sequence of light pulses, the second sequence corresponding to the initial sequence of light pulses (3); The light source according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

9. the optical switch (4) is in optical communication with the first optical arm and the second optical arm and is arranged to selectively provide the initial sequence of light pulses (3) to either the first optical arm (5) or the second optical arm (6); A light source according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. the optical switch is in optical communication with the first optical arm and the second optical arm and is configured to receive the first sequence of optical pulses (9) and the second sequence of optical pulses (10) and to selectively provide either the first sequence of optical pulses or the second sequence of optical pulses to the nonlinear optical element. A light source according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. the optical switch has an input and an output, and one of the optical arms is arranged to switch only the light of that optical arm; A light source according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

12. The nonlinear optical element (13) comprises a nonlinear optical fiber or a microstructured optical fiber. A light source according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. the first and second sequences of optical pulses generate a broadband output or a supercontinuum when propagated through the nonlinear optical device. A light source according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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