A stimulated Stokes Raman scattering-based approach for continuous wave supercontinuum generation in optical fibers

We report on a new and simple approach for continuous wave supercontinuum generation in optical fibers. Our new approach uses the effect of stimulated Stokes Raman scattering in a low loss fiber ring laser. By continuously pumping this ring laser with up to 19 W optical power we excited up to six Stokes orders and covered a wavelength range of 500 nm. Due to the feedback mechanism of the ring layout additional nonlinear effects occurred next to the plain generation of individual Stokes peaks. Eventually, these effects broaden and merge the separated Stokes peaks and create a single, connected continuous supercontinuum. By using the effect of stimulated Stokes Raman scattering, we do not rely on anomalous dispersion and modulation instability as typically required for continuous wave supercontinuum generation. (letter)