Optical element for generation of broadband radiation

A monolithic optical element, the optical element comprising:

• a plurality of hollow core regions, each core region configured to guide radiation provided to an input end of the optical element along a longitudinal axis of the optical element;
• a plurality of cladding regions, each cladding region surrounding a corresponding core region along the longitudinal axis and comprising transversally arranged micro-structures configured to confine the radiation to its corresponding core region;
• and
• a supporting region surrounding the plurality of cladding regions along the longitudinal axis.

A monolithic optical element for generating broadband radiation, the optical element comprising:

• a first hollow core region configured to guide radiation provided to a first input end of the optical element along a longitudinal axis of the optical element;
• a second hollow core region configured to guide radiation provided to a second input end of the optical element along a longitudinal axis of the optical element;
• a first cladding region surrounding the first hollow core region along the longitudinal axis and comprising transversally arranged micro-structures configured to provide non-linear optical behavior to the first core region causing the generating of broadband radiation;
• a second cladding region surrounding the second hollow core region along the longitudinal axis and comprising transversally arranged micro-structures configured to provide non-linear optical behavior to the second core region causing the generating of broadband radiation;
• and
• a supporting region surrounding the cladding regions along the longitudinal axis.