A laser source apparatus is for providing a beam path to generate a first laser beam and a second laser beam. The laser source apparatus includes a laser generator, at least one spectrum broadening unit and a beam splitter on the beam path. The laser generator is configured to generate an original laser beam with a pulse duration smaller than 1 ps. The spectrum broadening unit is configured in a following stage of the laser generator. The spectrum broadening unit includes a multiple plate continuum. The multiple plate continuum includes a plurality of thin plates, and the thin plates are configured along the beam path in order. The beam splitter is configured in the following stage of the laser generator to divide the original laser beam into the first laser beam and the second laser beam.

Efficient harmonic light generation can be achieved with ultrathin films by coupling an incident pump wave to an epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) mode of the thin film. As an example, efficient third harmonic generation from an indium tin oxide nanofilm (λ/42 thick) on a glass substrate for a pump wavelength of 1.4 μm was demonstrated. A conversion efficiency of 3.3×10.sup.−6 was achieved by exploiting the field enhancement properties of the ENZ mode with an enhancement factor of 200. This nanoscale frequency conversion method is applicable to other plasmonic materials and reststrahlen materials in proximity of the longitudinal optical phonon frequencies.

Efficient harmonic light generation can be achieved with ultrathin films by coupling an incident pump wave to an epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) mode of the thin film. As an example, efficient third harmonic generation from an indium tin oxide nanofilm (λ/42 thick) on a glass substrate for a pump wavelength of 1.4 μm was demonstrated. A conversion efficiency of 3.3×10.sup.−6 was achieved by exploiting the field enhancement properties of the ENZ mode with an enhancement factor of 200. This nanoscale frequency conversion method is applicable to other plasmonic materials and reststrahlen materials in proximity of the longitudinal optical phonon frequencies.

A laser source (100) is intended for a device for interacting simultaneously with several atomic species within time intervals which are common to these species. The laser source includes a laser radiation generating set (1), an optical amplifier (2), and a frequency doubler set (3). A component for time-division multiplexing (5) assign in alternation at successive time sub-intervals, initial radiations corresponding to interaction radiations dedicated to different atomic species. The result of the interactions with one of the atomic species is then identical to the result of the interactions with a continuous radiation dedicated to the atomic species.

A laser source (100) is intended for a device for interacting simultaneously with several atomic species within time intervals which are common to these species. The laser source includes a laser radiation generating set (1), an optical amplifier (2), and a frequency doubler set (3). A component for time-division multiplexing (5) assign in alternation at successive time sub-intervals, initial radiations corresponding to interaction radiations dedicated to different atomic species. The result of the interactions with one of the atomic species is then identical to the result of the interactions with a continuous radiation dedicated to the atomic species.

The purpose of the present invention is to make it possible to output stable light by optimizing the wavelength conversion efficiency in a wavelength conversion element without employing an optical detection device such as a photo diode in a laser light source device. A fundamental light wave emitted from a semiconductor laser (2) is wavelength converted by a wavelength conversion element (5) and is emitted therefrom. A lighting circuit (20) supplies electric power for the aforementioned semiconductor laser (2) to turn on the semiconductor laser (2). A control unit (21) controls the operation of the device while controlling the amount of power supplied to a heater means (7) such that the wavelength conversion element (5) reaches a temperature at which optimum wavelength conversion efficiency is acquired. The temperature detected by a temperature detection means (Th1) is input to the control unit (21), and the control unit (21) defines the temperature of the wavelength conversion element (5) at which the maximum amount of power is supplied to the heater means (7) as a set temperature at which the optimum wavelength conversion efficiency is acquired, and performs feedback control of the temperature of the wavelength conversion element (5) so that the temperature of the wavelength conversion element (5) reaches the aforementioned set temperature by controlling the amount of heat supplied from the heater means (7).

The purpose of the present invention is to make it possible to output stable light by optimizing the wavelength conversion efficiency in a wavelength conversion element without employing an optical detection device such as a photo diode in a laser light source device. A fundamental light wave emitted from a semiconductor laser (2) is wavelength converted by a wavelength conversion element (5) and is emitted therefrom. A lighting circuit (20) supplies electric power for the aforementioned semiconductor laser (2) to turn on the semiconductor laser (2). A control unit (21) controls the operation of the device while controlling the amount of power supplied to a heater means (7) such that the wavelength conversion element (5) reaches a temperature at which optimum wavelength conversion efficiency is acquired. The temperature detected by a temperature detection means (Th1) is input to the control unit (21), and the control unit (21) defines the temperature of the wavelength conversion element (5) at which the maximum amount of power is supplied to the heater means (7) as a set temperature at which the optimum wavelength conversion efficiency is acquired, and performs feedback control of the temperature of the wavelength conversion element (5) so that the temperature of the wavelength conversion element (5) reaches the aforementioned set temperature by controlling the amount of heat supplied from the heater means (7).

An electronic light synthesizer electronically synthesizes supercontinuum light, the electronic light synthesizer and includes: a microwave modulator that: receives a continuous wave light including an optical frequency; modulates the continuous wave light at a microwave repetition frequency; and produces a frequency comb including the optical frequency and modulated at the microwave repetition frequency; a self-phase modulator in optical communication with the microwave modulator and that: receives the frequency comb from the microwave modulator; spectrally broadens an optical wavelength range of the frequency comb; and produces broadened light including the optical frequency and modulated at the microwave repetition frequency; an optical filter in optical communication with the self-phase modulator and that: receives the broadened light from the self-phase modulator; and optically filters electronic noise in the broadened light; and a supercontinuum generator in optical communication with the optical filter and that: receives the broadened light from the optical filter; spectrally broadens the optical wavelength range of the broadened light; and produces supercontinuum light including the optical frequency and modulated at the microwave repetition frequency.

An electronic light synthesizer electronically synthesizes supercontinuum light, the electronic light synthesizer and includes: a microwave modulator that: receives a continuous wave light including an optical frequency; modulates the continuous wave light at a microwave repetition frequency; and produces a frequency comb including the optical frequency and modulated at the microwave repetition frequency; a self-phase modulator in optical communication with the microwave modulator and that: receives the frequency comb from the microwave modulator; spectrally broadens an optical wavelength range of the frequency comb; and produces broadened light including the optical frequency and modulated at the microwave repetition frequency; an optical filter in optical communication with the self-phase modulator and that: receives the broadened light from the self-phase modulator; and optically filters electronic noise in the broadened light; and a supercontinuum generator in optical communication with the optical filter and that: receives the broadened light from the optical filter; spectrally broadens the optical wavelength range of the broadened light; and produces supercontinuum light including the optical frequency and modulated at the microwave repetition frequency.

An apparatus for generating electromagnetic radiation includes a pump laser so adapted that in operation of the apparatus it generates electromagnetic continuous-wave pump radiation; an optical parametric oscillator which is arranged in the beam path of the pump radiation and has a non-linear optical crystal, and is so adapted that in operation of the apparatus it generates signal and idler radiation from the pump radiation, and a non-linear optical device having a non-linear optical crystal, being arranged at least in a beam path of the signal radiation or idler radiation, and being so adapted that in operation of the apparatus it generates from the signal or idler radiation electromagnetic radiation at a frequency greater than a frequency of the signal or idler radiation. The non-linear optical crystal being heated in a furnace so that the crystal has a temperature gradient in the beam direction of the signal or idler radiation.