Supercontinuum Light Source With Pulse Frequency Multiplication for Low Noise

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional supercontinuum light sources suffer from large amplitude fluctuations and noise, which limit their accuracy and sensitivity in optical measurement systems, making them unsuitable for applications requiring stable light sources.

Innovation Solution

A low-noise supercontinuum light source is developed using a seed laser, pulse frequency multiplier, and non-linear element, coupled with a single mode coupling unit to dampen and shape the supercontinuum spectrum, achieving a significantly reduced noise level by increasing the pulse frequency and using a non-linear fiber with anomalous dispersion for efficient spectral broadening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If conventional supercontinuum light sources are used, then broadband light output is achieved, but large amplitude fluctuations and noise occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebroadband light outputVSAvoidamplitude stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the supercontinuum generation process into two distinct stages: first generating a broad spectrum in a non-linear fiber, then filtering and selecting only the low-noise spectral regions. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both broadband output and amplitude stability by eliminating the noisy portions of the spectrum while retaining the useful broadband characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and removes the noisy components from the supercontinuum spectrum through filtering. By taking out the high-noise regions and retaining only the low-noise spectral regions, the system achieves amplitude stability while maintaining broadband light output. This extraction process directly addresses the contradiction by separating the desirable broadband characteristic from the undesirable noise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If spectral filtering is applied to reduce noise, then amplitude stability improves, but spectral bandwidth is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamplitude stabilityVSAvoidspectral bandwidth

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameters of the filtering process to optimize the balance between noise reduction and bandwidth retention. By carefully selecting filter characteristics and positioning, the system achieves significant noise reduction while maintaining a broad spectral output. The parameter optimization allows the system to retain low-noise spectral regions across a wide bandwidth, resolving the contradiction between stability and productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides a highly accurate and stable supercontinuum light source with reduced noise, enhancing the performance of optical measurement systems, particularly in applications like optical coherence tomography and microscopy, by maintaining low noise levels even at high power outputs.

Implementation Method 1

a non-linear element arranged to receive said pump pulses and convert said pump pulses to a supercontinuum light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNon-linear optical conversion:

Implementation Method 2

convert said pump pulses to a supercontinuum light provided as an output of said non-linear element and having a supercontinuum spectrum spanning from about λ1 to about λ2 where λ1−λ2>about 500 nm

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpectral broadening:

Implementation Method 3

a single mode coupling unit arranged to dampen and shape said supercontinuum spectrum from said non-linear element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpectral damping:

Implementation Method 4

The single mode coupling unit is arranged to dampen and shape said supercontinuum spectrum from said non-linear element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNoise reduction:

Implementation Method 5

a pulse frequency multiplier (PFM) arranged to multiply the seed pulses and convert Fseed to pump pulses with a pulse frequency Fpump

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFrequency multiplication:

Implementation Method 6

using a non-linear fiber with anomalous dispersion for efficient spectral broadening

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAnomalous dispersion:

Data Source

PatentUS11800972B2Supercontinuum light source

Publication Date: 2023.10.31 NKT PHOTONICS AS

AI summary

A supercontinuum light source can include a seed laser arranged to provide seed pulses with a pulse frequency Fseed; a pulse frequency multiplier (PFM) arranged to multiply the seed pulses by converting pulses having the pulse frequency Fseed to pump pulses with a pulse frequency Fpump, where Fpump is larger than Fseed; and a non-linear element arranged to receive said pump pulses and convert said pump pulses to pulses of supercontinuum light. The PFM can further include a splitter for splitting pulses into first and second sub beams each having the same pulse frequency, where the PFM is configured such that the sub beams experience different delays; and a combiner for combining said first and second sub beams into a beam having the pulse frequency that is greater than said same pulse frequency. The splitter can have an uneven splitter ratio.