Supercontinuum Light Source with Pulse Multiplication for Low Noise

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

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 supercontinuum light source comprising a seed laser, a pulse frequency multiplier, and a non-linear element, where the seed laser provides seed pulses that are multiplied to generate pump pulses, which are then converted into a supercontinuum spectrum by the non-linear element, and subsequently shaped by a single mode coupling unit to reduce noise and stabilize the output.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional supercontinuum light sources are used, then a broad spectrum is generated, but large amplitude fluctuations and noise occur which limit accuracy and sensitivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy and sensitivityVSAvoidamplitude stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the supercontinuum generation process into distinct functional units: a seed laser generates stable pulses, a pulse stretcher modifies pulse characteristics, and a non-linear fiber performs spectral broadening. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, with the seed laser providing temporal stability and the non-linear fiber providing spectral breadth, thereby resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and amplitude stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pulse stretcher acts as an intermediary component between the seed laser and the non-linear fiber. It transforms the input pulses to have optimal characteristics (longer duration, reduced peak power) before entering the non-linear fiber, which prevents excessive nonlinear effects that would cause amplitude fluctuations. This intermediary transformation enables stable supercontinuum generation with broad spectrum.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the supercontinuum generation process is used, then a spectrally broad continuum is produced, but quantum noise and technical noise significantly affect the output

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectral bandwidthVSAvoidquantum noise and technical noise

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions on the input pulses before they enter the non-linear fiber. The seed laser generates pulses with stable temporal and spectral characteristics, and the pulse stretcher pre-modifies these pulses to have optimal parameters for low-noise supercontinuum generation. By preparing the input pulses in advance with controlled characteristics, the system minimizes the generation of quantum noise and technical noise during the supercontinuum process, while still achieving broad spectral coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Illumination intensity

If pulsed lasers with high peak power are used to generate supercontinuum, then spectral broadening is achieved, but amplitude fluctuations increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectral broadeningVSAvoidamplitude stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes key parameters of the input pulses through the pulse stretcher: it increases pulse duration and reduces peak power while maintaining or increasing average power. This parameter transformation allows the non-linear fiber to achieve spectral broadening through controlled nonlinear effects without the excessive peak powers that would cause unstable amplitude fluctuations. The modified pulse parameters enable a balance between spectral broadening and amplitude stability.

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 results in a low-noise supercontinuum light source with improved stability and accuracy, suitable for precise optical measurements, particularly in applications like optical coherence tomography and microscopy.

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 optics:

Implementation Method 2

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

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical filtering: Filter (optical)

Data Source

PatentUS20250009221A1Supercontinuum light source

Publication Date: 2025.01.09 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.