Broadband light source device and method of creating broadband light pulses

A broadband light source comprising:

• an optical head configured to create broadband light pulses by an optical non-linear broadening of pump pulses, the optical head comprising:
• a synthesizer including an optical element and a hollow-core fiber, the synthesizer configured to couple the pump pulses to an input side of the hollow-core fiber, wherein the hollow-core fiber comprises a filling gas;
• a pump source configured to create and provide the pump pulses to the synthesizer;
• a pre-processor configured to monitor pump pulse parameters of the pump source;
• a fluid device configured to supply the filling gas to the hollow-core fiber;
• and
• a post-processor configured to monitor the broadband light pulses at an output side of the hollow-core fiber;
• and
• a control unit coupled to the optical head and configured to control operation of the optical head.

A control system comprising:

• a detector configured to measure one or more parameters of emitted radiation from a broadband light source comprising a hollow-core fiber to generate measurement data;
• and
• a processor configured to perform evaluation of mode purity of the emitted radiation based on the measurement data,
• wherein, based on the evaluation, the control system is configured to generate a control signal to optimize one or more pump coupling conditions of the broadband light source, the one or more pump coupling conditions based on coupling between a pump laser beam and a fiber core of the hollow-core fiber.