Optical fiber superluminescent light source

An apparatus comprising:

• an amplified spontaneous emission source comprising an optical fiber, said optical fiber comprising a solid core and a first end, said solid core comprising a silica matrix, said silica matrix comprising a rare-earth element and a glass co-dopant, said rare-earth element comprises dysprosium, said glass co-dopant comprises Al2O3;
• and
• a laser pump diode coupled to said first end of said optical fiber, said laser pump diode and said optical fiber cooperating to generate a spontaneous spectral emission confined to said solid core, the spontaneous spectral emission comprising a simultaneous plurality of spectral regions,
• wherein the simultaneous plurality of spectral regions comprises at least two of an about 470 to 505 nm spectral region, an about 545 to 625 nm spectral region, an about 635 nm to 700 nm spectral region, an about 730 to 785 nm spectral region, an about 815 to 865 nm spectral region, and an about 880 to 895 nm spectral region.