MIR Supercontinuum Using Gain-Switched and Modelocked Pumping

Low-noise MIR sources are desirable for applications including sensing, imaging and materials processing. These sources can be realized through supercontinuum generation, whereby pump pulses are spectrally broadened during propagation through nonlinear media. Both gain-switched diodes and modelocked lasers can act as pump sources, with the former offering excellent flexibility, whilst the latter typically displays superior noise properties.