| 摘要 |
A broadband light source that outputs broadband light with reduced peak power includes a pulsed light source, an optical fiber, a band-elimination filter, and a light echo unit. The optical fiber receives pulsed light output from the pulsed light source, expands the spectrum of the pulsed light by a nonlinear optical effect within the fiber to generate supercontinuum light, and outputs the supercontinuum light. The light echo unit has a plurality of optical paths between an input terminal and an output terminal thereof. At least one optical path in the plurality of optical paths serves as a loop optical path. The light echo unit receives, via the input terminal, the supercontinuum light output from the optical fiber and having traveled through the band-elimination filter, guides the supercontinuum light through the plurality of optical paths, and outputs the supercontinuum light guided by the plurality of optical paths from the output terminal. |
