Visible, multi-wavelength, fiber based Raman source

Summary form only given. The Raman gain of silica glass can be utilized to create multi-wavelength visible sources operating in a broad range of wavelengths providing a high peak power visible pump source is employed. To date, Raman generation in the visible has usually been achieved using inefficient large frame lasers such as Ar ion, excimer or frequency doubled or tripled solid state lasers. Today´s advances in parallel pumping techniques and the development of versatile format seeding sources, led to development of seeded powerful Ytterbium and Erbium fiber amplifiers which can readily replace costly, average power range, bulk solid state systems. By employing quasi-phase-matching harmonic generation in periodically poled materials, highly efficient frequency conversion and high peak powers in the visible can be readily achieved. The use of such visible fiber based systems for pumping visible Raman fiber converters can bring about fiber-delivered, compact and cost effective pulsed sources broadly operating over the visible range. We report on Raman generation in a single mode fiber pumped by 532 nm, PPKTP based, source based on a seeded Ytterbium fiber amplifier.