Enhanced supercontinuum generation in the nanosecond pump regime using specialty microstructured fibers

Several alternatives have been investigated to achieve enhanced supercontinuum generation in the nanosecond pump regime using specialty silica-based microstructured optical fibers (MOFs). Among these alternatives we can point out the use of (a) MOF tapers, (b) highly Ge-doped core Y-shaped MOF and (c) Er-doped MOF. These specialty MOFs provide either an increased material nonlinear response or a rather small effective area, at the same time that the dispersion characteristics are adjusted to work at different excitation conditions. In our experiments, we have been using either a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (10 Hz repetition rate) or an Yb-doped fiber laser (2 kHz repetition rate), both emitting at 1064 nm.