Light source

A broadband light source, comprising:

• a pulse generator for providing an initial sequence of light pulses having an initial pulse repetition rate;
• first and second optical arms, for propagating, respectively, first and second sequences of light pulses, each derived from the initial sequence of light pulses, wherein the first optical arm comprises a first manipulator configured to generate the first sequence of light pulses from the initial sequence of light pulses;
• a first multiport optical component for providing the initial sequence of light pulses to the first and/or second optical arms, wherein the first multiport optical component is arranged upstream of the first and second optical arms;
• a second multiport optical component for receiving the first and/or second sequences of light pulses, wherein the second multiport optical component is arranged downstream of the first and second optical arms;
• a nonlinear optical element configured for generating a broadband spectrum from the first or second sequence of light pulses, wherein the nonlinear optical element is arranged downstream of the second multiport optical component;
• wherein the broadband light source is configured for being operated in at least two different power operation modes:
• a high-power operation mode wherein the first sequence of light pulses is received by the nonlinear optical element, and
• a low-power operation mode wherein the second sequence of light pulses is received by the nonlinear optical element,
• wherein the first manipulator is configured to generate a burst of pulses from a pulse in the initial sequence of light pulses, said burst of pulses comprising two or more individual pulses.

A broadband light source, comprising:

• a pulse generator for providing an initial sequence of light pulses having an initial pulse repetition rate;
• first and second optical arms, for propagating, respectively, first and second sequences of light pulses, each derived from the initial sequence of light pulses, wherein the first optical arm comprises a first manipulator configured to generate the first sequence of light pulses from the initial sequence of light pulses;
• a first multiport optical component for providing the initial sequence of light pulses to the first and/or second optical arms, wherein the first multiport optical component is arranged upstream of the first and second optical arms;
• a second multiport optical component for receiving the first and/or second sequences of light pulses, wherein the second multiport optical component is arranged downstream of the first and second optical arms;
• a nonlinear optical element configured for generating a broadband spectrum from the first or second sequence of light pulses, wherein the nonlinear optical element is arranged downstream of the second multiport optical component;
• wherein the broadband light source is configured for being operated in at least two different power operation modes:
• a high-power operation mode wherein the first sequence of light pulses is received by the nonlinear optical element, and
• a low-power operation mode wherein the second sequence of light pulses is received by the nonlinear optical element,
• wherein, when operating in the high-power operation mode, the broadband light source is configured to deliver a total power of more than 5 W measured over the entire supercontinuum spectrum.