Noise reduction of high-power supercontinuum sources by back seeding

In this paper, we show that seeding of SC is used to reduce the noise in the continuum above the threshold. We have demonstrated this experimentally using a simple back seeding method in which the seeding signal is part of the generated SC, which is coupled back, time matched with the pump pulse, and recycled in the SC generation process. This ensures that the seed is always matched to the repetition rate of the pump, avoids the need for a separate seed generation system, and allows a positive feedback process, in which a reduction in the SC noise reduces the noise of the seed, which in turn reduces the noise of the SC.